Interoberver variability of optic dik variable meaured by confocal canning laer tomography

PURPOE: To ae the interoberver variation of confocal laer canning tomographic meaurement of the optic nerve head and to addre the quetion of whether the addition of clinical optic dik photograph i helpful in outlining the optic dik margin and in reducing the oberver-related variation of the meaurement. PATIENT AND METHOD: Optic dik variable for 16 eye of 16 patient with glaucoma, generated by confocal laer canning laer tomography (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph), were independently evaluated by four experienced glaucoma pecialit, and the interoberver variability wa calculated. A econd eparate review by the ame oberver included the ue of clinical tereocopic color optic nerve head photograph to aid definition of the optic dik margin. REULT: Optic dik parameter with the mallet interoberver variation were cup hape meaure, maximum cup depth, height variation contour, and mean height contour. The intraoberver variation of thee parameter did not increae when clinical optic dik lide were additionally available. Parameter with the highet interoberver variation were volume below urface, volume below reference, volume above urface, and volume above reference. The oberver variation of thee optic dik parameter increaed ignificantly for two of the four examiner when clinical optic dik lide were additionally available for outlining the optic dik margin. CONCLUION: Confocal laer canning tomography of the optic nerve head can be improved ignificantly if clinical optic dik photograph are additionally available to help in outlining the optic dik margin. Becaue interoberver variation in the tomographic optic dik meaurement can be ignificant, even if experienced oberver are involved, tomographic optic dik meaurement may be centralized in reading center in the cae of multicenter tudie.