Computer-assisted retinal vessel measurement in an older population: correlation between right and left eyes

Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2003 Aug;31(4):326-30. doi: 10.1046/j.1442-9071.2003.00661.x.

Abstract

This study assessed the correlation between computer-assisted retinal vessel measurements of right and left eyes, from subjects in a defined, community-based older population. Retinal photographs from participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study were digitized. All retinal arterioles and venules located 0.5-1.0 disc diameters from the optic disc margin were identified and a computer program measured their diameters. Pearson correlation (R2) statistic was used to assess the correlation in a random subsample of 1546 images. Substantial correlation between right and left eye measurements was found for summary indices of retinal arterioles (R2 = 0.70) and venules (R2 = 0.77). Higher correlation was found for intragrader (R2 0.75-079) than for intergrader assessment (R2 0.67-0.72). Moderate correlation was found in arteriole-to-venule ratio assessed by the same (R2 = 0.57) or different (R2 = 0.52) graders. Measurements from one eye can thus adequately represent the retinal vessel diameters of a person.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Random Allocation
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*