Purpose To evaluate the validity of a new method for the quantitative analysis of fundus or angiographic images using Photoshop 7.0
(Adobe, USA) software by comparing with clinical evaluation.
Methods Four hundred and eighteen fundus and angiographic images of diabetic patients were evaluated by three retina specialists
and then by computing using Photoshop 7.0 software. Four variables were selected for comparison: amount of hard exudates (HE)
on color pictures, amount of HE on red-free pictures, severity of leakage, and the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ).
Results The coefficient of agreement (Kappa) between the two methods in the amount of HE on color and red-free photographs were 85%
(0.69) and 79% (0.59), respectively. The agreement for severity of leakage was 72% (0.46). In the two methods for the evaluation
of the FAZ size using the magic and lasso software tools, the agreement was 54% (0.09) and 89% (0.77), respectively. Agreement
in the estimation of the FAZ size by the lasso magnetic tool was excellent and was almost as good in the quantification of
HE on color and on red-free images.
Conclusion Considering the agreement of this new technique for the measurement of variables in fundus images using Photoshop software
with the clinical evaluation, this method seems to have sufficient validity to be used for the quantitative analysis of HE,
leakage, and FAZ size on the angiograms of diabetic patients.
Keywords Fluorescein angiography - Foveal avascular zone - Hard exudates - Leakage - Photoshop
None of the authors have any financial interests related to this article.