Variability in illumination, signal quality, tilt and the amount of motion pose challenges for post-processing based 3D-OCT motion correction algorithms. We present an advanced 3D-OCT motion correction algorithm using image registration and orthogonal raster scan patterns aimed at addressing these challenges. An intensity similarity measure using the pseudo Huber norm and a regularization scheme based on a pseudo L0.5 norm are introduced. A two-stage registration approach was developed. In the first stage, only axial motion and axial tilt are coarsely corrected. This result is then used as the starting point for a second stage full optimization. In preprocessing, a bias field estimation based approach to correct illumination differences in the input volumes is employed. Quantitative evaluation was performed using a large set of data acquired from 73 healthy and glaucomatous eyes using SD-OCT systems. OCT volumes of both the optic nerve head and the macula region acquired with three independent orthogonal volume pairs for each location were used to assess reproducibility. The advanced motion correction algorithm using the techniques presented in this paper was compared to a basic algorithm corresponding to an earlier version and to performing no motion correction. Errors in segmentation-based measures such as layer positions, retinal and nerve fiber thickness, as well as the blood vessel pattern were evaluated. The quantitative results consistently show that reproducibility is improved considerably by using the advanced algorithm, which also significantly outperforms the basic algorithm. The mean of the mean absolute retinal thickness difference over all data was 9.9 um without motion correction, 7.1 um using the basic algorithm and 5.0 um using the advanced algorithm. Similarly, the blood vessel likelihood map error is reduced to 69% of the uncorrected error for the basic and to 47% of the uncorrected error for the advanced algorithm. These results demonstrate that our advanced motion correction algorithm has the potential to improve the reliability of quantitative measurements derived from 3D-OCT data substantially.

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Purpose To evaluate longitudinal changes in circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), in children with optic pathway gliomas. Design Longitudinal cohort study Methods Global and quadrant specific circumpapillary RNFL thickness measures were acquired using either a hand-held during sedation or a table-top SD-OCT in children old enough to cooperate. Vision loss was defined as either a 0.2 logMAR decline in visual acuity, or progression of visual field. Percent change in circumpapillary RNFL thickness in eyes experiencing vision loss was compared to eyes with stable vision. Results Fifty-five eyes completed two-hundred fifty study visits. Ten eyes (18%) from 7 patients experienced a new episode of vision loss during the study and 45 (82%) eyes from 39 patients demonstrated stable vision across study visits. Percent decline of RNFL thickness between the baseline visit and first event of vision loss event was greatest in the superior (−14%) and inferior (−10%) quadrants as well as global average (−13%). Using a threshold of ≥ 10% decline in RNFL, the positive and negative predictive value for vision loss when two or more anatomic sectors were affected was 100% and 94%, respectively. Conclusions Children experiencing vision loss from their optic pathway gliomas frequently demonstrate a ≥ 10% decline of RNFL thickness in one or more anatomic sectors. Global average and the inferior quadrant demonstrated the best positive and negative predictive values. Circumpapillary RNFL is a surrogate marker of vision and could be helpful in making treatment decisions for children with optic pathway gliomas.