Comparing glaucomatous disc change using stereo disc viewing and the MatchedFlicker programme in glaucoma experts and trainees.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and speed of trainees and experienced glaucoma specialists using the MatchedFlicker software against the manual examination of stereoscopic disc photographs for detecting glaucomatous optic disc change. METHODS: Three experienced glaucoma specialists, two resident ophthalmologists and one glaucoma fellow from multiple institutions independently evaluated the same 140 image pairs from 100 glaucomatous/ocular hypertensive eyes using a handheld stereo viewer and the MatchedFlicker programme. Fifty had progression to glaucoma as determined by the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) Optic Disc Reading Group and endpoint committee, and 50 more were negative controls for progression with photos taken a few minutes apart. Twenty photo pairs from each of the two groups were duplicated for reviewer variability analysis. The initial viewing method was randomised and then alternated for each group of 70 image pairs. Reviewer accuracy and evaluation time for each method were measured. RESULTS: Evaluators averaged 8.6 s faster per image pair (26%) with the MatchedFlicker programme than with the stereo viewer (p=0.0007). Evaluators correctly identified more image pairs when using the MatchedFlicker software over the stereo viewer (p=0.0003). There was no significant difference between the expert and trainee group in speed or overall accuracy for either method. Experts were significantly more consistent than trainees with the duplicate image pairs (p=0.029). Trainees appeared more reluctant to designate eyes as showing glaucoma progression than experts. CONCLUSIONS: Both expert glaucoma specialists and ophthalmologists in various stages of training had greater accuracy and speed with the MatchedFlicker programme than with a handheld stereoscopic viewer.

Visually Significant Cystoid Macula Edema After Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery.

PURPOSE: This study examines the incidence of visually significant cystoid macular edema (CME) after glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) surgery and analyses risk factors associated with developing CME and prognosis with treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 185 eyes from 185 glaucoma patients (mean age, 72.46±13.94 y) who underwent GDI surgery at a tertiary eye institute were recruited. Patients were classified based on the presence (CME) or absence (No-CME) of CME. Pre-GDI and post-GDI best-corrected visual acuity, number of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications, IOP, standard automated perimetry and post-GDI complications, were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to quantify retinal thickness and monitor CME. RESULTS: In total, 41 (22.2%) eyes developed visually significant CME after GDI surgery. Patients with CME had a higher incidence of pre-GDI nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (P<0.01) use and higher number of prior glaucoma surgeries (P<0.01). CME patients had a higher (P<0.01) incidence of iritis, epiretinal membrane, and hypotony. CME eyes responded well to steroids, with resolving macular edema (458.4±151.9 vs. 322.0±92.0 µm, P<0.01) and improving visual acuity (0.73±0.48 vs. 0.56±0.56 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution, P<0.01). Both CME and non-CME groups had equivalent lowering of IOP and post-GDI glaucoma medications; with no significant elevation in IOP in the steroid-treated CME group. CONCLUSIONS: Post-GDI surgery visually significant CME rates are potentially higher in a real hospital scenario compared with controlled clinical trials. With diligent treatment, CME resolves effectively restoring visual acuity and central macular thickness.

Comparing Glaucomatous Disc Change Using Stereo Disc Viewing and the MatchedFlicker Software Program in Ophthalmologists-in-Training.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy and speed of using the computerized MatchedFlicker software program (EyeIC Inc, Narberth, Pennsylvania, USA) to evaluate glaucomatous optic disc change against the traditional gold standard of manually examining stereoscopic disc photographs. DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of diagnostic technology. METHODS: Two resident ophthalmologists and 1 glaucoma fellow at the University of Florida independently evaluated 140 image pairs from 100 glaucomatous/ocular hypertensive patient eyes using a handheld stereo viewer and the MatchedFlicker program. Fifty had progression to glaucoma as determined by the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) Optic Disc Reading Group and the OHTS Endpoint Committee in the OHTS, and 50 more had photographs taken a few minutes apart, which were negative controls with no progression. Twenty photograph pairs from each group were duplicated to determine reviewer variability. Photographs were examined in alternating blocks of 70 photograph pairs for each method, with the starting viewing method randomized. Reviewer accuracy and time to review for each method were measured. RESULTS: Using the handheld stereo viewer, the reviewers correctly identified progression or nonprogression in 76.0% of the slide pairs. Using the MatchedFlicker software, 87.6% were correctly identified (P = .011). Evaluator speed averaged 34.1 seconds per image pair with the stereo viewer vs 24.9 seconds with the MatchedFlicker program (P = .044). Overall, Flicker was significantly more specific but less sensitive than stereo slides. Trainees appeared more reluctant to identify glaucoma progression from slides than from Flicker. For the 2 less experienced trainees Flicker was significantly more accurate. CONCLUSION: The MatchedFlicker software had a greater accuracy and was quicker to perform than using a handheld stereoscopic viewer.