Comparison of optic nerve head analysis using optical coherence tomography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy

Abstract

: Optic nerve head examination is the hallmark of glaucoma diagnosis. The difficulties in clinical assessment of the optic nerve head relate to its inherent subjectivity and large diversity in the appearance of discs. In this study the optic nerve head assessment using optical coherence tomography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were compared to study the significance of difference in the cup-to-disc ratio as calculated by the 2 methods.: The material of the study were patients attending the outpatient department of a Tertiary hospital. : A prospective observational study was conducted. Group I consisted of 50 patients with primary open angle glaucoma and Group II consisted of 50 non-glaucomatous patients. SBM and OCT were done to assess the average cup to disc ratio (CDR).: Average CDR was calculated by the 2 methods and was compared by Pearson correlation in which the correlation value of +1 is a total positive correlation, 0 is no correlation and −1 is a negative correlation. The statistical software SPSS 15.0 was used.: The correlation values for the right eye in the control group was 0.84 and in the case group was 0.89. The correlation values for the left eye in the control group was 0.68 and in the case group was 0.90.: The study found the OCT findings closely mirror the clinical findings especially in cases of glaucoma. ONH analysis is the hallmark of Glaucoma Diagnosis. OCT is user independent and reliable but is a tedious process and not advisable in a busy practice for ONH assessment. Clinical examination with slit lamp biomicroscopy closely mirrors the findings of OCT and is the cornerstone for the assessment of ONH in OPD practice.