Purpose:
To present a new concept of self-optical coherence tomography (OCT) and self-OCT angiography.
Methods:
The operator sits in the patient seat and manipulates the instrument body via the joystick with the dominant hand, while the dominant index is ready to press the capture button and while focusing on the fixation target. One senior ophthalmologist judged various OCT machines for ease of self-scan during a major ophthalmic convention. Separately, self-scans were also captured using a single OCT machine by one senior ophthalmologist and 5 junior optometrists and the scans were analyzed for both centration and image quality value (IQV), and compared to regular scans done by an operator.
Results:
Ten available OCT machines were tested for their ability to allow self-OCT. Machines that had one or more features of auto-alignment, auto-focus, and auto-shoot were ideal for self-OCT or self-OCT angiography. Self-scans done by the ophthalmologist (total 27 scans of right eye, mean IQV = 32.6, and 24 left eyes, mean IQV = 37.3, done over 9 months) and 5 optometrists (total 24 scans, mean 34.8 done in one session) were comparable to scans (total 11, mean IQV = 38.1) done by an operator for image quality. Decentration was very common in self-scans of the macula (37% right eye and 46% left eye) versus 0% for scans of the right eye done by an operator.
Conclusions:
Self-OCT scans of the macular region can be done with good image quality but are often decentered. Advantages include privacy, potential use by ophthalmic health professionals, airspace station officers, and possible future home self-imaging of macula.