Sensitivity and Specificity of Time-Domain versus Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Diagnosing Early to Moderate Glaucoma

Purpose To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in early to moderate glaucoma using Stratus time-domain and Cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Design Evaluation of diagnostic test or technology. Participants Fifty-four glaucoma subjects with early to moderate visual field defects and 50 age-matched normal subjects. Testing Three peripapillary RNFL scans of 1 eye of each subject using Stratus and Cirrus OCT. Main Outcome Measures Sensitivity and specificity of average, quadrant, and clock-hour RNFL thickness. Results The average age±standard deviation in the normal and glaucoma groups was 62.9±12.7 years (range, 40–84 years) and 67.6±11.4 (range, 42–85 years), respectively ( P = 0.05). The glaucoma group consisted of 34 early (average mean deviation, −3.20±1.22 dB) and 20 moderate (average mean deviation, −8.05±1.87 dB) glaucomas. Cirrus OCT sensitivity and specificity for average RNFL abnormal at the 5% level were 83% and 88%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 65% and 100%, respectively. Stratus OCT sensitivity and specificity for average RNFL abnormal at the 5% level were 80% and 94%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 61% and 100%, respectively. For 1 or more abnormal quadrants at the 5% level, the sensitivity and specificity for Cirrus OCT were 98% and 80%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 87% and 92%, respectively. For 1 or more quadrants abnormal at the 5% level, the sensitivity and specificity for Stratus OCT were 96% and 76%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 74% and 94%, respectively. Cirrus OCT sensitivity and specificity using a criterion of 1 or more abnormal clock hours at the 5% level were 100% and 72%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 85% and 94%, respectively. Stratus OCT sensitivity and specificity for 1 or more abnormal clock hours at the 5% level were 98% and 66%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 85% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity and specificity of various RNFL parameters using the Cirrus OCT for glaucoma with early to moderate visual field defects are excellent and are equivalent to Stratus OCT. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.