Comparison of Epiretinal Membrane Detection Rates Between Optos^® and Clarus^™ Ultra-Widefield Fundus Imaging Systems

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging is crucial for fundus examinations.
• Optos® pseudo-color images may limit visibility of retinal lesions.
• Clarus™ true-color imaging with blue light may enhance epiretinal membrane (ERM) detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Optos® and Clarus™ UWF imaging devices for ERM detection.
• To evaluate the impact of imaging technology on the detection of retinal interface lesions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 233 patients (408 eyes) with simultaneous Optos® and Clarus™ UWF imaging.
• Ten blinded ophthalmologists assessed UWF images for ERM presence, confirmed by OCT.
• McNemar's test was used to compare the detection accuracy between the two devices.

Main Results:

• Clarus™ showed significantly higher sensitivity (median 49% vs. 14%, p=0.002) and correct judgment rate (85% vs. 78%, p=0.010) compared to Optos®.
• Clarus™ also had a lower unassessed rate (6% vs. 13%, p=0.002).
• Superiority of Clarus™ was consistent across different ERM stages and ophthalmologist experience levels.

Conclusions:

• Clarus™ significantly outperforms Optos® in detecting epiretinal membranes.
• True-color UWF systems like Clarus™ may be more beneficial for macular screening in clinical practice.
• Enhanced visualization of retinal interface lesions is critical for accurate diagnosis.