Comparison of confocal laser scanning colorful fundus imaging and color fundus photography for detection of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Objective To compare the imaging characteristics and detection of various types of lesions in diabetic retinopathy (DR) with colorful laser scanning fundus imaging (MSLI) and traditional color fundus photography (CFP). Methods Prospective case series observational study. A total of 38 eyes of 38 patients with DR diagnosed by clinical examination were included in the study. Among them, 21 were male and 17 were female; the mean age was 62.6±11.2 years; the average duration of diabetes was 14.3±7.5 years. All the patients were performed CFP, MSLI, frequency domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein angiography (FFA) examination. Using the Helielberg Spectralis HRA+OCT MSLI inspection, one scan simultaneously obtained 488 nm blue reflection (BR), 515 nm green light reflection (GR), 820 nm infrared light reflection (IR), and multicolor image (MC). The detection of traditional CFP and MC on microaneurysm (MA), hard exudation (HEX), cotton plaque (CWS), intraretinal hemorrhage (IRH), intraretinal microvascular abnormality (IRMA), venous bead (VB), venous ring (VL), macular edema (DME), macular anterior membrane (MEM) and laser photocoagulation (LB) were comparatively observed. The results of FFA examination were used as the diagnostic criteria for lesions. SD-OCT was used to determine the location and depth of lesions and the diagnostic reference for DME and MEM. Results The numbers of eyes with MA (χ2=10.460), DME (χ2=4.006), MEM (χ2=4.444) was significantly higher in MC than that of traditional CFP. But the number of eyes with IRH (χ2=0.103), CWS (χ2=1.515), HEX (χ2=0.227), IRMA (χ2=0.051), VB (χ2=0.001), VL (χ2=0.149), VH (χ2=0.693) and LB (χ2=0.720) were not statistically significant between two methods (P>0.05). The imaging quality of MSLI mode is obviously better than that of traditional CFP. Among them, GR imaging shows the best structural changes of superficial retina in MA, CWS, HEX, MEM, etc. IR imaging shows clear depth in deep retina such as LB. DME was green on MC and the weak low-reflection dark area was visible on the IR image, which were consistent with the DME range indicated by the SD-OCT examination. Conclusions Compared with the traditional CFP, the MSLI can clearly show the DR lesion. The number of checkouts is high on MA, DME and MEM by MC image. Key words: Diabetic retinopathy/diagnosis; Ophthalmoscopy; Microscopy, confocal; Tomography, optical coherence; Color fundus photography