Optomap image DR with PRP. Credit Dr Paulo Stanga

Results from a large multicentre study have confirmed the equivalence of Optos’ optomap ultra-widefield (UWF) technology to the EDTRS gold standard for grading diabetic retinopathy (DR).

The study, published in Jama Ophthalmology and on display on the Optos stand at the RANZCO NZ conference, included 764 eyes from 385 participants. When compared the optomap and ETDRS images agreed exactly 59% and were within one level 97% of the time. Predominantly peripheral DR lesions were present in 41% of eyes studied and suggested increased DR severity by two or more steps in 11%.

“Imaging by the ETDRS 7-field and UWF imaging systems have moderate to substantial agreement when determining the severity of DR within the 7 standard fields,” concluded study authors. Whether identification of these peripheral lesions will substantially impact the ability to predict risk of future DR progression awaits final data from this ongoing study.