Standardized Ultra-Widefield Swept-Source OCT Imaging: A Reproducible Protocol for Peripheral Retinal Assessment.

BACKGROUND

The utilization of ultra-widefield (UWF) photography and, more recently, UWF-OCT has increased greatly in retina clinic. The most widely available UWF-OCT uses navigated swept-source OCT (SS-OCT), which lacks a standardized protocol, consequently limiting comparisons across patient visits or larger population-based studies. We present a structured imaging protocol to address this limitation.

TECHNIQUE: A universal template standardizes the number, type, and anatomical positioning of seven scans per patient, including three 21 mm line scans and four UWF volume scans. Scans are automatically positioned per protocol and ultimately stitched into a composite image, which is optimized for longitudinal and inter-patient comparisons.

DISCUSSION: This protocol enhances efficiency and ensures reproducible assessment of peripheral retinal findings. It may be adapted for other UWF systems and is currently being evaluated for clinical applications.