Comparison of retinal vessel diameter measurements from swept-source OCT angiography and adaptive optics ophthalmoscope

Background/ims To compare the retinal vessel diameter measurements obtained from the swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA; Plex Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec, USA) and adaptive optics ophthalmoscope (AOO; RTX1, Imagine Eyes, France). Methods Fifteen healthy subjects, 67% women, mean age (SD) 30.87 (6.19) years, were imaged using OCTA and AOO by a single experienced operator on the same day. Each eye was scanned using two OCTA protocols (3x3 mm(2) and 9x9 mm(2)) and two to five AOO scans (1.2x1.2 mm(2)). The OCTA and AOO scans were scaled to the same pixel resolution. Two independent graders measured the vessel diameter at the same location on the region-of-interest in the three coregistered scans. Differences in vessel diameter measurements between the scans were assessed. Results The inter-rater agreement was excellent for vessel diameter measurement in both OCTA protocols (ICC=0.92) and AOO (ICC=0.98). The measured vessel diameter was widest from the OCTA 3x3 mm(2) (55.2 +/- 16.3 mu m), followed by OCTA 9x9 mm(2) (54.7 +/- 14.3 mu m) and narrowest by the AOO (50.5 +/- 15.6 mu m; p<0.001). Measurements obtained from both OCTA protocols were significantly wider than the AOO scan (OCTA 3x3 mm(2): mean difference Delta=4.7 mu m, p<0.001; OCTA 9x9 mm(2): Delta=4.2 mu m, p<0.001). For vessels >45 mu m, it appeared to be larger in OCTA 3x3 mm(2) scan than the 9x9 mm(2) scan (Delta=1.9 mu m; p=0.005), while vessels <45 mu m appeared smaller in OCTA 3x3 mm(2) scan (Delta=-1.3 mu m; p=0.009) Conclusions The diameter of retinal vessels measured from OCTA scans were generally wider than that obtained from AOO scans. Different OCTA scan protocols may affect the vessel diameter measurements. This needs to be considered when OCTA measures such as vessel density are calculated.

Automated summary

This study compared the retinal vessel diameter measurements obtained from Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) and Adaptive Optics Ophthalmoscope (AOO), with results showing that the vessel diameter measured from OCTA scans was generally wider than that from AOO scans. Different OCTA scan protocols may also affect vessel diameter measurements.