Semi-automated software to measure luminal and stromal areas of choroid in optical coherence tomographic images

Purpose To determine the capabilities of “EyeGround” software in measuring the choroidal cross sectional areas in optical coherence tomographic (OCT) images. Study design Cross sectional, prospective study. Methods The cross-sectional area of the subfoveal choroid within a 1500 µm diameter circle centered on the fovea was measured both with and without using the EyeGround software in the OCT images. The differences between the evaluation times and the results of the measurements were compared. The inter-rater, intra-rater, inter-method agreements were determined. Results Fifty-one eyes of 51 healthy subjects were studied: 24 men and 27 women with an average age of 35.0 ± 8.8 years. The time for analyzing a single image was significantly shorter with the software at 3.2±1.1 min than without the software at 12.1±5.1 min ( P <0.001). The inter-method correlation efficient for the measurements of the whole choroid was high [0.989, 95% CI (0.981-0.994)]. With the software, the inter-rater correlation efficient was significantly high [0.997, 95% CI (0.995-0.999)], and the intra-rater correlation efficient was also significantly high [0.999, 95% CI (0.999-1.0)]. Conclusion The EyeGround software can measure the choroidal area in the OCT cross sectional images with good reproducibility and in a significantly shorter times. It can be a valuable tool for analyzing the choroid.