Reproducibility of minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness using the Anatomic Positioning System in...

To determine the test-retest repeatability of minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using the Anatomic Positioning System protocol in glaucoma patients and controls. Also, to assess the ability of the minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness to diagnose glaucoma in 2 circular peripapillary locations.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans of the optic nerve head were obtained twice during the same visit using the Anatomic Positioning System eye-tracking protocol. The minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness were measured at 3 circular diameters (3.5 mm, 4.1 mm, and 4.7 mm). Intraclass correlation coefficients and area under the receiver operating characteristic were calculated for these parameters.

A total of 36 glaucomatous eyes and 59 control eyes were included in the analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficients of minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness global measurement for 3.5 mm and 4.1 mm circles ranged between 0.98 and 1.00 and for 4.7 mm circle was between 0.76 and 1.00. The minimum rim width had an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.97, while the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements had an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.95, 0.95, and 0.96 for the 3.5 mm, 4.1 mm, and 4.7 mm circles, respectively.

The minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements using the Anatomic Positioning System protocol had overall excellent reproducibility and diagnostic performance. Using this protocol and the novel minimum rim width parameter may be useful in more accurate diagnosis and follow-up of patients with glaucoma.