Toward a Real-world Optical Coherence Tomography Reference Database: Optometric Practices as a Source of Healthy Eyes

The reports from optical coherence tomography (OCT) instruments depend on a reference database (RDB) of healthy eyes. Although these RDBs tend to be relatively small, they are time consuming and expensive to obtain. A larger RDB should improve our ability to screen for diseases such as glaucoma.

To explore the feasibility of developing a large RDB from OCT scans obtained by optometrists as part of their pre-test gathering of information, we tested the hypothesis that these scans are of sufficient quality for an RDB and contain a relatively low base rate of glaucoma and other pathologies (OPs).

Optical coherence tomography widefield (12 × 9 mm) scans from 400 eyes of 400 patients were randomly selected from a data set of more than 49,000 scans obtained from four optometry sites. Based on a commercial OCT report and a previously validated reading center method, two OCT graders categorized eyes as unacceptable to use for RDB, healthy (H), optic neuropathy consistent with glaucoma (ON-G), glaucoma suspect, or OPs.

Overall, 29 (7.25%) of the eyes were graded unacceptable. Of the remaining 371 eyes, 352 (94.9%) were graded H. Although, for one site, 7.4% of the eligible eyes were graded ON-G, the average for the other three sites was 1.4%. Adjustments of the reading center criteria resulted in exclusion of more than half of these ON-G and OP eyes.

The OCT scans obtained from optometry practices as part of their pre-test regimen are of sufficient quality for an RDB and contain a relatively low base rate of glaucoma and OPs. With the suggested exclusion criteria, the scans from optometry practices that are primarily involved in refraction and medical screening services should yield a large, real-world RDB with improved specificity and a base rate of glaucoma and/or OPs comparable with existing RDB.