Comparison of retinal vessel measurements in digital vs film images

Am J Ophthalmol. 2006 Nov;142(5):875-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2006.05.056.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare central retinal artery equivalents (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalents (CRVE) from vessels measured from images captured with a digital camera and digitized images taken with a film camera.

Design: Comparison of techniques.

Setting: Clinic.

Patients: A total of 75 eyes of 48 adults.

Observation procedures: Gradings of retinal vessel diameters from images produced by using two photographic techniques: directly from a 45 degrees digital camera and digitized by scanning from a 30 degrees film-based camera.

Main outcome measure: Differences in CRAE and CRVE from two types of images.

Results: CRAE and CRVE were highly comparable between the two techniques with correlation coefficients of 0.88 and 0.87, respectively.

Conclusion: Estimates of CRAE and CRVE from measurements taken from digitally captured and digitized film-based images were highly comparable. It is likely that inferences about factors associated with retinal vessel diameters will be unbiased by the method of imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Weights and Measures
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Photography / methods*
  • Retinal Vessels / anatomy & histology*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*