Ultra-widefield and 7-field imaging proven comparable for tracking diabetic retinopathy severity
The 7-field (7F) and ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging modalities provide highly comparable assessments of diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity, according to a study.
High concordance between these methods could allow their combined use in both clinical research and patient care over time.
The research analyzed data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and its follow-up, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. Participants with type 1 diabetes underwent both 7F and UWF imaging between 2019 and 2021, with DR severity graded using standardized scales.
Results showed strong correlations between the 2 imaging methods across various DR severity levels, including severe nonproliferative DR and proliferative DR. The study concluded that both 7F and UWF imaging provide comparable DR assessments, indicating that UWF imaging can be confidently used in future longitudinal studies without introducing significant measurement biases.
Reference
Aiello LP, Blodi B, Gao X, et al; DCCT/EDIC Research Group. Ultra-Widefield and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study 7-Field Grading of Diabetic Retinopathy. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Aug 15:e242890. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.2890. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39145984; PMCID: PMC11327899.
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