Influence of Optic Disc Size on Identifying Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy. 2017

Gregory J Nixon, and Ronald K Watanabe, and Michael Sullivan-Mee, and Anthony DeWilde, and Lisa Young, and G Lynn Mitchell
*OD, FAAO †MAS The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, Ohio (GJN); The New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts (RKW); New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico (MS-M); Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri (AD); Chicago Glaucoma Consultants, Glenview, Illinois (LY); and The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, Ohio (GLM).

The aim of this study was to use a large group of observers to test prior research findings that suggest optic disc size, clinical evaluation of the neuroretinal rim (ISNT rule), and practitioner characteristics influence the accuracy of differentiating normal from glaucomatous optic nerves. Participant observers were optometrists, optometry students, and vision scientists/researchers attending the 2013 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting. Each observer viewed and judged six sets of stereoscopic photographs of normal and clinically confirmed glaucomatous optic nerves of different sizes presented in random order. Observers were queried on whether each nerve was glaucomatous or normal, whether the nerve followed the ISNT rule, and whether further evaluation with advanced imaging techniques was indicated. Of the 261 observers who participated, 59% were practicing optometrists, 7% were vision scientists, and 34% were residents or students. Of practicing optometrists and vision scientists, half (49%) had more than 15 years of experience, whereas 11% had less than 2 years of experience. Diagnostic accuracy differed based on optic nerve size: average-sized nerves were correctly identified by 90% of subjects, whereas small nerves and large nerves were correctly identified by 42% and 62%, respectively. Notably, only 9% of subjects correctly identified the small glaucomatous nerve, and only 34% correctly identified the large normal nerve. No practitioner characteristics were associated with diagnostic accuracy. Accurate identification of glaucomatous optic neuropathy was significantly influenced by optic disc size. This was particularly evident for the large normal nerve and the small glaucomatous nerve. The ISNT rule provided value for differentiating normal from glaucomatous nerves, but its subjective interpretation resulted in considerable intergrader variability. These findings agree with other studies utilizing smaller numbers of observers but larger numbers of optic nerve presentations that disc size and the ISNT rule have value for enhancing accuracy of optic nerve assessment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009898 Optic Disk The portion of the optic nerve seen in the fundus with the ophthalmoscope. It is formed by the meeting of all the retinal ganglion cell axons as they enter the optic nerve. Blind Spot,Optic Disc,Optic Nerve Head,Optic Papilla,Blind Spots,Disc, Optic,Disk, Optic,Head, Optic Nerve,Nerve Head, Optic,Optic Discs,Optic Disks,Optic Nerve Heads,Optic Papillas,Papilla, Optic,Papillas, Optic,Spot, Blind
D009901 Optic Nerve Diseases Conditions which produce injury or dysfunction of the second cranial or optic nerve, which is generally considered a component of the central nervous system. Damage to optic nerve fibers may occur at or near their origin in the retina, at the optic disk, or in the nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, or lateral geniculate nuclei. Clinical manifestations may include decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, impaired color vision, and an afferent pupillary defect. Cranial Nerve II Diseases,Foster-Kennedy Syndrome,Optic Disc Disorders,Optic Disk Disorders,Optic Neuropathy,Second Cranial Nerve Diseases,Cranial Nerve II Disorder,Neural-Optical Lesion,Disc Disorder, Optic,Disk Disorder, Optic,Disorder, Optic Disc,Foster Kennedy Syndrome,Lesion, Neural-Optical,Neural Optical Lesion,Neural-Optical Lesions,Neuropathy, Optic,Optic Disc Disorder,Optic Disk Disorder,Optic Nerve Disease,Optic Neuropathies,Syndrome, Foster-Kennedy
D005260 Female Females
D005901 Glaucoma An ocular disease, occurring in many forms, having as its primary characteristics an unstable or a sustained increase in the intraocular pressure which the eye cannot withstand without damage to its structure or impairment of its function. The consequences of the increased pressure may be manifested in a variety of symptoms, depending upon type and severity, such as excavation of the optic disk, hardness of the eyeball, corneal anesthesia, reduced visual acuity, seeing of colored halos around lights, disturbed dark adaptation, visual field defects, and headaches. (Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed) Glaucomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults
D041623 Tomography, Optical Coherence An imaging method using LASERS that is used for mapping subsurface structure. When a reflective site in the sample is at the same optical path length (coherence) as the reference mirror, the detector observes interference fringes. OCT Tomography,Optical Coherence Tomography,Coherence Tomography, Optical,Tomography, OCT

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