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PurposeTo evaluate the precision of objective refraction measurements with six different autorefractors that have different designs and measurement principles and to compare the objective refraction values with the subjective refraction.MethodObjective refraction of 55 participants was measured using six autorefractors with different designs. The instrument features mainly varied in terms of measurement principles, inbuilt fogging, open or closed view, and handheld or stationary designs. Two repeated measurements of objective refraction were performed with each autorefractor. The objective refractions from the six autorefractors were compared with the standard subjective refraction. The repeatability limit and Bland-Altman were used to describe the precision and accuracy of each autorefractor, respectively. The analysis was done using the spherical component of the refraction and the power-vector components, spherical equivalent (M), and cylindrical vectors.ResultsThe repeatability of all autorefractors was within 1.00 and 0.35D for measuring the M and both cylindrical components, respectively. Inbuilt fogging was the common feature of the instruments that showed better repeatability. Compared to subjective refraction, the mean difference for sphere and M was below +0.50D, and it was close to zero for the cylindrical components. The instruments that had inbuilt fogging showed narrower limit of agreement. When combined with fogging, the open field refractors showed better precision and accuracy.ConclusionsThe inbuilt fogging is the most important feature followed by the open view in determining the precision and accuracy of the autorefractor values.

PurposeTo evaluate the intradevice repeatability and agreement for peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) measurements in healthy eyes with two different scan directions and two different number of B scans.MethodspRNFL was measured with a spectral domain optical coherence tomography on 54 healthy participants. Three-dimensional optic disc scans (6 mm x 6 mm) were performed on the right eye of the participants. Two repeated scans were performed in four different settings: H1: Horizontal scan with 512 A-scans x 96 B-scans; H2: Horizontal scan with 512 A-scans x 128 B-scans; V1: Vertical scan with 512 A-scans x 96 B-scans; V2: Vertical scan with 512 A-scans x 128 B-scans. The pRNFL thickness was evaluated in twelve clock-hour sector in a circle of 3.45 mm diameter centred at the optic disc. Repeatability and agreement were assessed with within subject standard deviation (Sw) and Bland-Altman test respectively.ResultsThe repeatability of pRNFL measurements varied depending on the scan direction and sectors. The repeatability for the horizontal sectors were better with H1 and H2, with sector 9 having the best Sw (< 3 μm). The repeatability for the vertical sectors were better with V1 and V2 with sector 5 and 9 having the best Sw (< 4 μm). The repeatability with vertical scan was more symmetric among the sectors than with horizontal scans. The repeatability metrics of the sectors did not vary much between H1 and H2 (difference < 2 μm) and between V1 and V2 (difference < 3.2 μm). Comparing horizontal and vertical scans, the vertical sectors had larger limits of agreement of about 45 μm.ConclusionThe reliability of the pRNFL thickness measurements is dependent on the direction of the scan and independent on the numbers of B-scans. Vertical scans for pRNFL gives more homogeneous repeatability across the different sectors.

PurposeTo evaluate the repeatability of the new spectral domain optical coherence tomography (HOCT-1F), and also to evaluate the agreement between vertical and horizontal scan protocols. In addition, we also evaluated the relation between the repeatability and age.MethodsThree consecutive measurements of the inner limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ILM-RPE), inner limiting membrane-inner plexiform layer (ILM-IPL) from macular horizontal and vertical scans, and inner limiting membrane-retinal nerve fiber layer (ILM-RNFL) from optic disc horizontal scan. 159 subjects were included in the analysis. The within subject standard deviation (Sw) and the repeatability limits (Rlimit) are used to represent the repeatability of the parameters for the different sectors.ResultsThe Sw for the ILM-RPE thickness was less than 3.5 μm for each sector and scan direction. The Sw values varied within the sectors and scan modes, with horizontal scan modes resulting in better values for the horizontal sectors, and vice versa. The Sw for the GCL-IPL thickness was less than 2 μm, and was similar between the vertical and horizontal scan modes for each sector map. For the optic disc scan, the Sw was not symmetric along the clock-hour map sectors, the largest Sw values were seen in the vertical sectors (8.6 μm). The mean difference between the vertical and horizontal scans was less than 2 μm for each retinal thickness sector map. Significant but weak correlation between the Sw and the subject's age was seen in both macular and optic disc scans.ConclusionsThe repeatability of the HOCT-1F to measure the ILM-RPE-, ILM-IPL- and ILM-RNFL-thickness is good. The repeatability of the ILM-RPE thickness is dependent on the scan direction, which should be taken into account when calculating retinal thickness. There is a weak correlation between the repeatability and the subject's age.

PURPOSE:To assess nuclear and cortical opacities through the objective analysis of Scheimpflug images, and to check the correlation with the Lens Opacity Classification System III (LOCS III). METHODS:Nuclear and cortical opacities were graded according to the LOCS III rules after pupil dilation. The maximum and average pixel intensity values along an elliptical mask within the lens nucleus were taken to analyse nuclear cataracts. A new metric based on the percentage of opaque pixels within a region of interest was used to analyse cortical cataracts. The percentage of opaque pixels was also calculated for half, third and quarter areas from the region of interest's periphery. RESULTS:The maximum and average intensity values along the nucleus were directly proportional to the LOCS III grade: The larger the LOCS III value, the larger maximum and average intensity ones. These metrics showed a positive and significant correlation with the LOCS grade: The larger the LOCS grade, the higher was percentage of opaque pixels along the cortex within the same mask's size. This metric showed a significant correlation to the LOCS grade. CONCLUSION:The metrics used to assess nuclear opacities showed good correlation with the LOCS III. The percentage of opaque pixels showed to be a useful metric to measure objectively the severity of the cortical opacity. These metrics could be implemented in an algorithm to detect and grade lens opacities automatically and objectively.