Larger real-world OCT database provides increased accuracy compared to commercial reference

Real-world optical coherence tomography (OCT) reference databases (RW-RDB) from optometry practices are similar to a commercial reference database (RDB) in terms of key retinal measurements, according to a study. However, the larger size of the RW-RDB provides narrower error margins, potentially leading to greater accuracy in clinical assessments.

Researchers analyzed OCT scans of healthy eyes from 4932 individuals sampled from 10 optometry practices, comparing them to a commercial database of 398 eyes.

The study found no significant differences in the means and distributions of key retinal parameters, except for 2 minor variations in fovea-to-disc distance and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, both under 1.5%. The RW-RDB had a higher proportion of older eyes (14.7% vs 10.1% in the commercial RDB), and its larger size resulted in narrower error bands in statistical models.

Reference
Hood DC, Durbin M, La Bruna S, et al. Characteristics of a Large Database of Healthy Eyes From Optometry Practices: Implications for a Real-World Reference Database. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2024;13(10):8. doi: 10.1167/tvst.13.10.8. PMID: 39361315.