Simplified method to measure the peripapillary choroidal thickness using three-dimensional optical coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate measurement of choroidal thickness is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various ocular conditions.
• Traditional methods for measuring peripapillary choroidal thickness can be time-consuming and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a simplified, efficient method for measuring peripapillary choroidal thickness.
• To assess the reliability of this method using commercially available three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT).

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D-OCT images from a database of normal eyes.
• Adjusted the segmentation line from the retinal pigment epithelium to the chorioscleral junction using the 3D-OCT viewer's modification tool.
• Evaluated choroidal thickness variations across 12 sectors of the peripapillary area.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured peripapillary choroidal thickness in 40 participants (40 eyes).
• Demonstrated strong inter-observer correlation for choroidal thickness measurements (r = 0.901 to 0.991, p < 0.001).
• Found the greatest mean choroidal thickness in the temporal quadrant (210 ± 78 µm), followed by superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants.

Conclusions:

• The simplified 3D-OCT method is highly reliable and efficient for measuring peripapillary choroidal thickness.
• This technique is suitable for peripapillary circle scan images used in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) analysis.
• Offers a valuable tool for clinical practice and research in ophthalmology.