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. 2006 Jul-Aug;26(6):655-60.
doi: 10.1097/01.iae.0000236468.33325.74.

Quantification of photoreceptor layer thickness in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography

Annie Chan  1 , Jay S Duker, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Tony H Ko, Joel S Schuman, James G Fujimoto
Affiliations

Quantification of photoreceptor layer thickness in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography

Annie Chan et al. Retina. 2006 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the ability to segment and analyze individual intraretinal layers, including the outer retinal complex (ORC; outer nuclear layer and inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cells), in healthy eyes using images acquired from the latest commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) system (StratusOCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) and from the ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) prototype.

Methods: Thirty-seven eyes from 37 healthy subjects underwent complete ophthalmologic examination using StratusOCT and UHR-OCT. ORC was identified and measured using a segmentation algorithm.

Results: For StratusOCT, mean weighted ORC thickness +/- SD was 91.1 +/- 7.9 microm, and mean weighted total retinal thickness +/- SD was determined to be 258.9 +/- 10.1 microm. For UHR-OCT, mean weighted ORC thickness +/- SD was 96.4 +/- 6.3 microm, and mean weighted total retinal thickness +/- SD was determined to be 263.4 +/- 9.2 mum. There was a higher rate of algorithm failure with UHR-OCT images.

Conclusions: Photoreceptor layer thickness can be calculated by measuring ORC on OCT images using a macular segmentation algorithm. ORC values may serve as a useful objective parameter in determining the efficacy of various therapeutic modalities that target the photoreceptor layer in various diseases.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography image of a normal human macula. NFL, nerve fiber layer; GCL, ganglion cell layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; OPL, outer plexiform layer; ONL, outer nuclear layer; ELM, external limiting membrane; IS/OS, junction between photoreceptor inner and outer segments; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium. The algorithm measures the ORC (outer retinal complex) by detecting the inner border of the RPE signal to the inner border of the ONL.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Mean weighted outer retinal complex (ORC) thickness ± SD by age. Overall, the mean weighted ORC thickness ± SD was significantly lower by StratusOCT (optical coherence tomography) than by ultrahigh resolution OCT (91.1 ± 7.9 µm vs. 96.4 ± 6.3 µm, respectively; P = 0.002 [paired t‐test]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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