The prospective, non-interventional ORCA module of the OCEAN study was done with the purpose to evaluate the quality of SD-OCT image interpretation and treatment decisions by clinicians in German. The focus was also on the impact on visual outcomes over 24 months in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
2286 SD-OCT scans of 205 eyes were independently evaluated by clinicians and RCs regarding signs of CNV activity, including the presence of intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, and/or increase in pigment epithelial detachments.
In 44.8% of cases with RC detected CNV activity, clinicians claimed no treatment was justified despite having correctly detected CNV activity in about 2/3 of these cases. In 34% of cases with presumed undertreatment, visual acuity declined in the following visit.
The study concluded through its findings that although there is broad agreement on CNV activity parameters was observed between clinicians and RCs, correct identification of CNV activity did not always lead to the initiation of (re-)treatment. To preserve vision over time, the correct interpretation of SD-OCT scans and careful retreatment decisions are required.
Reference: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/11/1573
