Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy by One-Field, Non-Mydriatic, 45° Digital Photography Is Inadequate

Vol. 219, No. 5, 2005

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 95 KB)

Original Paper

Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy by One-Field, Non-Mydriatic, 45° Digital Photography Is Inadequate
Hsi-Kung Kuo^a, Hsin-Hung Hsieh^c, Rue-Tsuan Liu^b

Departments of
^aOphthalmology and
^bEndocrinology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, and Department of
^cEndocrinology, Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2005;219:292-296 (DOI: 10.1159/000086114)

Key Words

Screening for diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy
Non-mydriatic digital photography
Slit-lamp biomicroscopy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of one-field, non-mydriatic, 45° digital photography for screening for diabetic retinopathy compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy using a slit-lamp, the reference standard. Methods: A total of 100 consecutive diabetic patients (200 eyes) who underwent digital fundus photography and ocular examinations from June 2002 to November 2002 were included in this retrospective study. The patients, recruited from a hospital-based, retina referral practice, underwent 45°, non-mydriatic, digital fundus photography using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. One image was obtained focusing the mid fundus between the optic disc and the macula. The fundus images were printed and graded by endocrinologists and a retinal specialist separately. The patients also underwent complete standard ocular examinations as the reference method for determining diabetic retinopathy, including dilation of their pupils and slit-lamp biomicroscopy done by ophthalmologists. The sensitivity and specificity of the digital photographic method were calculated by comparison to the reference method. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the retinal specialist's diabetic retinopathy grades were 53.8 and 89.0%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the endocrinologists' grades were 45 and 75.3%, respectively. The false negative rates were 22 and 21.5% for endocrinologists and the retinal specialist, respectively. Conclusions: Screening for diabetic retinopathy using one-field, non-mydriatic, 45° digital photography is inadequate.

Author Contacts

Dr. Hsi-Kung Kuo
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang
Kaohsiung Hsien 833 (Taiwan)
Tel. +886 7 7317123/ext 2801, Fax +886 7 7318762, E-Mail d2767@cgmh.org.tw

Article Information

The authors have no proprietary or financial interest in any product mentioned in this communication.

Received: July 1, 2004
Accepted: October 22, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 23

Medline Abstract (ID 16123556)

Download Citation

Cited In

For non-native English speakers and international authors who would like assistance with their writing before submission, we suggest American Journal Experts for their scientific editing service.