Evaluation of posterior vitreous detachment using ultrasonography and optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic ability of ultrasonography (US) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in evaluating posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) status. Methods: In total, 124 eyes in 63 patients were prospectively enrolled. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) status was evaluated by two examiners independently using US and OCT (transverse scan with/without peripapillary scan). By combining all examination results from both examiners, a final agreement on the PVD status was made. Inter-observer agreement and inter-examination agreement on PVD detection were evaluated.Results: The inter-observer agreement on PVD grading based on US was substantial (kappa = 0.628). The inter-observer agreement on PVD grading based on OCT was almost perfect (transverse and peripapillary scan, kappa = 0.893; transverse scan only, kappa = 0.923). The PVD grading based on transverse and peripapillary OCT perfectly matched the final PVD grading (kappa = 1.00). The PVD grading made based on US and transverse scan only showed almost perfect agreement with the final PVD grading (US, kappa = 0.834; transverse scan only, kappa = 0.906). Conclusion: Both US and OCT could accurately evaluate PVD. The interpretation of the US images was more subjective, leading to lower inter-examiner agreement than that of the OCT. By adding peripapillary OCT scan images, the diagnostic ability of OCT was improved.

Evaluating posterior vitreous detachment by widefield 23-mm swept-source optical coherence tomography imaging in healthy subjects

“…PVD was historically considered as an acute event occurring due to an abrupt break in the posterior vitreous cortex leading to mechanical collapse and separation of the degenerated vitreous cortex away from the retina 1 . However, OCT has shown that PVD progression is of more chronic nature rather than an acute event 10 , 11 . Previous studies using 7-mm and 9-mm time-domain OCTs have reported that partial PVD begins in the 30 s in healthy subjects 6 , 12 .…”

Evaluating Posterior Vitreous Detachment By Widefield 23-mm Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging In Healthy Subjects

“…PVD was historically considered as an acute event occurring due to an abrupt break in the posterior vitreous cortex leading to mechanical collapse and separation of the degenerate vitreous away from the retina. 1 However, OCT has shown that PVD progression is of a more chronic nature rather than an acute event [10,11]. Previous studies using 7-mm and 9-mm time-domain OCTs have reported that partial PVD starts in the thirties in healthy subjects [6,12].…”

Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Compared to Ultrasound and Biomicroscopy for Diagnosis of Posterior Vitreous Detachment

“…11 However, there is also recent evidence suggesting that SD-OCT images including the peri-papillary region have higher levels of inter-rater agreement than those of ultrasonography. 12 SS-OCT has improved depth imaging primarily by using a longer wavelength of 1050 nm, and faster scan speeds, with commercially available instruments starting at an axial scan rate of 100,000 A-scans/second. 1 These improvements allow for improved depth resolution and the simultaneous detailed imaging of the macula, optic nerve head, choroid, and vitreous structures.…”

“… 11 However, there is also recent evidence suggesting that SD-OCT images including the peri-papillary region have higher levels of inter-rater agreement than those of ultrasonography. 12 …”