Clinical Scorecard: How to Detect and Interpret OCT Artifacts

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• OCT RNFL and GCC provide objective assessment of glaucoma progression.
• Artifacts in OCT scans can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
• Quality of OCT scans is crucial; signal strength thresholds differ by device.
• Clinicians should assess scan quality and position to avoid diagnostic errors.
• Reviewing raw OCT data can help identify artifacts beyond summary statistics.
• Correlating OCT findings with clinical assessments is essential.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Establish a new baseline with the same OCT device for previously monitored patients.

Management

• Avoid reliance on summary statistics; inspect all data points for accurate diagnosis.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regularly assess RNFL thickness values and deviation maps for signs of progression.

Risks

• Misinterpretation of artifacts can lead to unnecessary treatment or missed diagnoses.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with glaucoma or at risk of glaucoma, particularly those unable to perform visual field tests.

Proper interpretation of OCT data is essential to avoid overtreatment or undertreatment.

Clinical Best Practices

• Ensure adequate scan quality before interpretation; remind patients to blink.
• Train technicians to recognize and address poor quality scans immediately.
• Utilize automated identification features in modern OCT machines for consistency.
• Provide ongoing training for clinicians on recognizing artifacts.

References

• Study on OCT artifacts