Repeatability of Foveal Measurements Using Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography Segmentation Software

Purpose To investigate repeatability and reproducibility of thickness of eight individual retinal layers at axial and lateral foveal locations, as well as foveal width, measured from Spectralis spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans using newly available retinal layer segmentation software. Methods High-resolution SD-OCT scans were acquired for 40 eyes of 40 young healthy volunteers. Two scans were obtained in a single visit for each participant. Using new Spectralis segmentation software, two investigators independently obtained thickness of each of eight individual retinal layers at 0 degrees, 2 degrees and 5 degrees eccentricities nasal and temporal to foveal centre, as well as foveal width measurements. Bland-Altman Coefficient of Repeatability (CoR) was calculated for inter-investigator and inter-scan agreement of all retinal measurements. Spearman's. indicated correlation of manually located central retinal thickness (RT0) with automated minimum foveal thickness (MFT) measurements. In addition, we investigated nasal-temporal symmetry of individual retinal layer thickness within the foveal pit. Results Inter-scan CoR values ranged from 3.1 mu m for axial retinal nerve fibre layer thickness to 15.0 mu m for the ganglion cell layer at 5 degrees eccentricity. Mean foveal width was 2550 mu m +/- 322 mu m with a CoR of 13 mu m for inter-investigator and 40 mu m for inter-scan agreement. Correlation of RT0 and MFT was very good (rho = 0.97, P < 0.0005). There were no significant differences in thickness of any individual retinal layers at 2 degrees nasal compared to temporal to fovea (P > 0.05); however this symmetry could not be found at 5 degrees eccentricity. Conclusions We demonstrate excellent repeatability and reproducibility of each of eight individual retinal layer thickness measurements within the fovea as well as foveal width using Spectralis SDOCT segmentation software in a young, healthy cohort. Thickness of all individual retinal layers were symmetrical at 2 degrees, but not at 5 degrees eccentricity away from the fovea.