Repeatability and agreement of biometric measurements using spectral domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography and Scheimpflug tomography in keratoconus

PLoS One. 2021 May 21;16(5):e0248659. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248659. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the repeatability and agreement in biometric measurements using Spectral Domain Anterior Segment OCT (AS-OCT, REVO-NX, Optopol) and Scheimpflug tomography (Pentacam-AXL, Oculus) in keratoconus.

Methods: Prospective case series at a university hospital tertiary center. Axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), central corneal thickness (CCT), and thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) were measured using both devices in patients with keratoconus. Three groups were analyzed: eyes with no prior crosslinking or contact lens wear (Group A), eyes with prior crosslinking (Group B), and eyes with prior contact lens wear (Group C). Repeatability and agreement of measurements were analyzed.

Results: The study comprised of 214 eyes of 157 subjects. In Group A (n = 95 eyes), Group B (n = 86 eyes), and Group C (n = 33 eyes), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was higher than 0.90 for all examined parameters, except for ACD readings in Group A with the REVO-NX (ICC = 0.83). Differences in ACD, TCT, and CCT were significantly different between the two devices for Groups A, B and C (p<0.05). AL measurements differed significantly in Groups A and B (p<0.05) but not in Group C (p = 0.18). Repeatability did not vary significantly between Groups A, B, or C in any parameter with both devices (p>0.05). There was poor agreement between the two devices across all parameters (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Both devices demonstrated good repeatability but poor agreement across AL, ACD, CCT and TCT measurements. There was no significant difference in repeatability in virgin eyes compared to eyes with prior crosslinking or contact lens wear, however, the interchangeable use of the two devices is not recommended.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biometric Identification / instrumentation
  • Biometric Identification / methods
  • Biometric Identification / standards*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keratoconus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / standards*

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.