Correlation in foveal thickness measurements between spectral-domain and time-domain optical coherence tomography in normal individuals

Abstract

Purpose: To compare a time-domain (Stratus) and a spectral-domain (Spectralis) optical coherence tomography (OCT) device in assessing foveal thickness in healthy subjects.

Methods: In this observational study 40 healthy subjects (40 eyes) underwent Stratus OCT and Spectralis OCT measurements of foveal thickness using three consecutive horizontal and vertical B-scan. Paired samples t-test was used to compare means between Stratus and Spectralis OCT measurements. Coefficient of variation (CoV) was used to compare dispersion in datasets. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to quantify linear relation between Spectralis and Stratus OCT measurements. To assess agreement between Spectralis and Stratus OCT foveal thickness measurements, the Bland and Altman plots were used.

Results: Sample age ranged from 19 to 49 years (mean 33.25, standard deviation (SD) +/-4.22). The Spectralis OCT foveal thickness measurements resulted significantly higher than those obtained with Stratus OCT (227.64+/-11.74 vs 144.36+/-12.25 microm, and 227.63+/-11.43 vs 144.92+/-12.34 microm, for horizontal and vertical foveal thickness, respectively) (P<0.05). Coefficient of variations were 5.16 and 5.02% using Spectralis OCT, and 8.49 and 8.51% using Stratus OCT. Mean Spectralis/Stratus ratio was 1.58 for both horizontal and vertical measurements. A linear relation between the two technologies was found (r(horiz)=0.899 and r(vert)=0.869) (P<0.001).

Conclusions: A good correlation between Stratus and Spectralis OCT foveal measurements was found, independently of retinal thickness. This preliminary study suggests the existence of a conversion factor between Stratus and Spectralis OCT when measuring healthy foveal thickness.