Anterior segment optical coherence tomography as a screening tool for the assessment of the anterior segment angle

Abstract

Background and objective: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is an alternative method for the assessment of angle width. The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of AS-OCT for detecting occludable angles and compare the results of high- and low-resolution images with gonioscopy.

Patients and methods: Visante AS-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) images of 303 eyes (155 patients) presenting between February 1 and July 15, 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. Angle recess area (ARA) and angle opening distances (AOD) at 250, 500, and 750 microm were measured and correlated with the corresponding gonioscopic measurements.

Results: AS-OCT parameters showed a nonlinear relationship with gonioscopy, ARA having the highest correlation. Correlations between high- and low-resolution images were modest. Cut-off values were 0.180 mm2 (70.3% sensitivity, 87.4% specificity) for ARA and 0.264 mm (71.8% sensitivity, 84.8% specificity) for AOD at 500 microm.

Conclusion: AS-OCT appears to be a promising screening tool for narrow angles.