Advanced Optical Coherence Tomography Algorithms Provide New Volumetric Data

With advanced algorithms developed for new optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, ophthalmologists now have the most advanced imaging capabilities available for assessing and managing glaucoma and diseases of the retina.

Carl Zeiss Meditec (Jena, Germany), a developer of ophthalmic devices and surgical systems, reported that two new OCT applications, Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT, were presented for the first time at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) meeting in Chicago, IL, USA, in April 2008.

The Cirrus HD-OCT, the latest addition to the Zeiss OCT family of systems, provides the most detailed scan patterns and layer maps available for identifying retinal and glaucoma disease characteristics, and monitoring disease progression. Nearly 1000 Cirrus HD-OCT units have been sold worldwide since its introduction last November. It is the first in its category to provide high-definition three-dimensional (3D) maps to spectral domain technology.

"The Cirrus HD-OCT 3D images bring us a new level of insight into the detailed structure of the retina,” said Peter K. Kaiser, M.D., director of the Clinical Research Center, Cole Eye Institute Cleveland, OH, USA). "Combined with the proprietary image analysis algorithms developed by the veteran Zeiss team, the Cirrus gives us new volumetric data that expands our ability to interpret the three-dimensional images in a highly reproducible, quantitative fashion.”

For the first time, Stratus OCT features both Advanced Serial Analysis and Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) software for objective measurement and subjective clinical evaluation in the detection of glaucoma and retinal diseases. Advanced Serial Analysis plots retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness over time and reports statistically significant change, enabling practitioners to project future vision loss and make timely treatment decisions.

Stratus OCT is the standard of care system for comprehensive retinal scanning. With nearly 9000 Stratus OCT units in use worldwide, more than 37,000 scans performed each year and backed by over 100 U.S. clinical studies for retinal disease, the Stratus OCT is the most widely adopted and researched OCT system in the world.

Jim Taylor, Carl Zeiss Meditec president and chief executive officer, remarked, "The new features for the Cirrus and Status OCT systems provide efficiencies that allow physicians to more easily gather and interpret detailed disease information while streamlining workflow processes that impact the entire practice. Our ultimate goal is to enable our customers to provide the best quality of care possible to their patients.”

OCT is an imaging method that uses light to scan the retina, and can be performed on undilated pupils as small as three mm in diameter. It provides detailed, real-time information about the structure of the living eye available to the clinician. Using light to scan the retina and optic disc, this pioneering technology provides new clinical tools for the diagnosis and management of retinal disease and glaucoma.


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