Clinical agreement among glaucoma experts in the detection of glaucomatous changes of the optic disk using simultaneous stereoscopic photographs

Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Nov;136(5):949-50. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(03)00480-x.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical agreement in the detection of optic disk changes in patients with glaucoma using simultaneous stereophotographs.

Design: Masked-observer variability study.

Methods: Ten glaucoma specialists examined pairs of simultaneous stereophotographs of glaucomatous and control optic disks to determine whether there were changes compatible with progression of glaucomatous damage.

Results: Intraobserver agreement had a kappa value ranging from 0.55 to 0.78. Interobserver agreement among the glaucoma specialists had a kappa value ranging from 0.34 to 0.68.

Conclusions: Clinical examination of stereophotographs to detect optic disk changes in glaucoma patients has limitations associated with suboptimal reproducibility.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / standards
  • Expert Testimony
  • Glaucoma / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Medicine / standards
  • Observer Variation
  • Ophthalmology / standards
  • Optic Disk / pathology*
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Photography / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specialization