Comparison of repeatability of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement made using the RTVue Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph and the GDx scanning laser polarimeter with variable or enhanced corneal compensation.

PURPOSE: To compare repeatability of measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) made using the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph against repeatability of those made using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation or enhanced corneal compensation (GDx-VCC and GDx-ECC, respectively).

METHODS: One eye of each of 37 participants (14 normal and ocular hypertensive subjects, 11 patients with moderate, and 12 with severe glaucoma; groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) was imaged using the RTVue Optic Nerve Head Map scan, GDx-VCC, and GDx-ECC, each 5 times on the same day. The coefficient of variation (CV) were compared. The P values <1% were considered as significant.

RESULTS: For average RNFLT CV was significantly lower with RTVue (2.11%) than with GDx-ECC (3.22%, P=0.004), for all participants. For temporal quadrant RNFLT in all participants, and group 1, CV with RTVue (4.88% and 3.30%) was significantly lower than with GDx-ECC (7.40% and 5.88%; P=0.004), and tended to be lower than with GDx-VCC (6.81% and 5.80%; P=0.011 and 0.016, respectively). For all participants, CV for inferior quadrant RNFLT was significantly lower with RTVue (3.49%) than with GDx-VCC (5.20%, P=0.002). No other difference was seen for any other parameter in any subject group.

CONCLUSIONS: Repeatability characterized by CV of RNFLT measurement with the RTVue Optic Nerve Head Map scan and GDx-VCC/GDx-ECC was similar, and sufficient for clinical purposes, both in normal subjects and in glaucoma patients with different disease severity. For average peripapillary RNFLT and temporal quadrant RNFLT, repeatability of RTVue was better than that of GDx-ECC, and tended to be better than that of GDx-VCC.