Quantification of photoreceptor layer thickness in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography

Objective: To demonstrate the ability to segment and analyze individual intraretinal layers, including the outer retinal complex (ORC; outer nuclear layer and inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cells), in healthy eyes using images acquired from the latest commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) system (StratusOCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) and from the ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) prototype. Methods: Thirty-seven eyes from 37 healthy subjects underwent complete ophthalmologic examination using StratusOCT and UHR-OCT. ORC was identified and measured using a segmentation algorithm. Results: For StratusOCT, mean weighted ORC thickness +/- SD was 91.1 +/- 7.9 mu m, and mean weighted total retinal thickness +/- SD was determined to be 258.9 +/- 10.1 mu m. For UHR-OCT, mean weighted ORC thickness SD was 96.4 +/- 6.3 mu m, and mean weighted total retinal thickness +/- SD was determined to be 263.4 +/- 9.2 mu m. There was a higher rate of algorithm failure with UHR-OCT images. Conclusions: Photoreceptor layer thickness can be calculated by measuring ORC on OCT images using a macular segmentation algorithm. ORC values may serve as a useful objective parameter in determining the efficacy of various therapeutic modalities that target the photoreceptor layer in various diseases.