Reproducibility of optic disc measurements with computerized analysis of stereoscopic video images

Computerized digital image analysis of the optic nerve head was performed using a simultaneous stereoscopic video camera system to provide rapid, quantitative measurements of optic nerve head topography. Determination of the variability of the measurements is required to estimate the magnitude of optic nerve change over time that can be reliably detected. Total variability, operator variability, and interoperator variability were studied. Total variability was assessed by analyzing ten sets of video recordings made in each of seven eyes of seven normal subjects, and in seven eyes of seven patients with glaucoma. The median coefficients of variation for measurements of total variability in glaucoma patients were as follows: vertical disc measurement, 1.4%; horizontal disc measurement, 2.1%; disc area, 1.9%; vertical cup/disc, 3.9%; horizontal cup/disc, 3.3%; disc rim area, 7.5%; and volume, 7.6%. Operator and interoperator variabilities were considerably smaller in magnitude.