biostudies-literatureBrunner EAustrian Science Fund FWFRoche Pharma AG (Germany)429https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11854792biostudies-literatureUnknown15(4)<b>Background/Objectives</b>: An assessment of the retinal image quality in adaptive optics optical coherence tomography (AO-OCT) is challenging. Many factors influence AO-OCT imaging performance, leading to greatly varying imaging results, even in the same subject. The aim of this study is to introduce quantitative means for an assessment of AO-OCT image quality and to compare these with parameters retrieved from the pyramid wavefront sensor of the system. <b>Methods</b>: We used a spectral domain AO-OCT instrument to repetitively image six patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy over a time span of one year. The data evaluation consists of two volume acquisitions with a focus on the photoreceptor layer, each at five different retinal locations per visit; 7-8 visits per patient are included in this data analysis, resulting in a total of ~420 volumes. <b>Results</b>: A large variability in AO-OCT image quality is observed between subjects and between visits of the same subject. On average, the image quality does not depend on the measurement location. The data show a moderate correlation between the axial position of the volume recording and image quality. The correlation between pupil size and AO-OCT image quality is not linear. A weak correlation is found between the signal-to-noise ratio of the wavefront sensor image and the image quality. <b>Conclusions</b>: The introduced AO-OCT image quality metric gives useful insights into the performance of such a system. A longitudinal assessment of this metric, together with wavefront sensor data, is essential to identify factors influencing image quality and, in the next step, to optimize the performance of AO-OCT systems.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)Image Quality in Adaptive Optics Optical Coherence Tomography of Diabetic Patients.PMC11854792Unrestricted research grantP22329-N20, F6803-N36Drexler WBrunner EPollreisz APircher MKunze LfalseImage Quality in Adaptive Optics Optical Coherence Tomography of Diabetic Patients.<b>Background/Objectives</b>: An assessment of the retinal image quality in adaptive optics optical coherence tomography (AO-OCT) is challenging. Many factors influence AO-OCT imaging performance, leading to greatly varying imaging results, even in the same subject. The aim of this study is to introduce quantitative means for an assessment of AO-OCT image quality and to compare these with parameters retrieved from the pyramid wavefront sensor of the system. <b>Methods</b>: We used a spectral domain AO-OCT instrument to repetitively image six patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy over a time span of one year. The data evaluation consists of two volume acquisitions with a focus on the photoreceptor layer, each at five different retinal locations per visit; 7-8 visits per patient are included in this data analysis, resulting in a total of ~420 volumes. <b>Results</b>: A large variability in AO-OCT image quality is observed between subjects and between visits of the same subject. On average, the image quality does not depend on the measurement location. The data show a moderate correlation between the axial position of the volume recording and image quality. The correlation between pupil size and AO-OCT image quality is not linear. A weak correlation is found between the signal-to-noise ratio of the wavefront sensor image and the image quality. <b>Conclusions</b>: The introduced AO-OCT image quality metric gives useful insights into the performance of such a system. A longitudinal assessment of this metric, together with wavefront sensor data, is essential to identify factors influencing image quality and, in the next step, to optimize the performance of AO-OCT systems.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Feb2025-04-04T10:42:22.002Z2025-04-04T10:42:22.002ZS-EPMC118547924000258010.3390/diagnostics15040429