Localized Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect Location Among Red-free Fundus Photographs, En Face Structural Images, and Cirrus HD-OCT Maps.

PRECIS

Although the localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects in the en face structural images showed excellent topographic correlation with those in red-free photographs, the RNFL defect was frequently misidentified by the optical coherence tomography (OCT) deviation map.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the location of localized RNFL defects using red-free fundus photographs, OCT en face structural images, and OCT RNFL deviation and thickness maps.

METHODS

We investigated the agreement of angular locations of localized RNFL defects. Seventy localized RNFL defects were selected in red-free photographs (red-free defect). En face images and OCT deviation and thickness maps were overlaid on the corresponding red-free photographs. The proximal/distal angular locations and angular width of the red-free defects were compared with those of en face structural images (en face defect) and OCT RNFL deviation (deviation map defect) and thickness maps (thickness map defect).

RESULTS

Among 70 eyes with red-free defects, 13 (18.6%), 1 (1.4%), and 0 (0%) defects were misidentified by the OCT deviation map, thickness map, and en face image, respectively. There were no significant differences among red-free defects, en face defects, and OCT thickness map defects in the angular width and proximal/distal angular locations. The angular widths were significantly greater in OCT RNFL deviation maps compared with those of other imaging modalities. The correlation coefficients of angular width and locations between the red-free defect and en face defect were significantly higher than those between the red-free defect and OCT map defects (all, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Localized RNFL defects detected in red-free photographs showed the highest topographic correlation with defects detected in OCT en face images. En face structural images may aid in identifying the localized RNFL defects in glaucomatous eyes.