Purpose: The Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) is a new instrument that determines hemodynamic variables at discrete locations of the retina and the optic disc. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of various HRF recording settings on the long-term variability of the HRF parameter. "Flow," computed at the optic nerve head in healthy individuals.
Methods: The authors obtained 2 sets of 5 HRF recordings in 10 healthy individuals (age range, 23-60 years). The HRF recordings were obtained within a scan area of 10 degrees x 2.5 degrees (set 1) and 20 degrees x 5 degrees (set 2). For each set, the HRF recordings were obtained on 5 consecutive days. Respective HRF recordings for both sets were obtained on the same days. On these recordings, the HRF parameter, "Flow," was computed at 3 different regions of interest (temporal superior, temporal inferior, and temporal rim of the optic disc). At all three locations, Flow was computed within windows of measurement of 10 pixels x 10 pixels and 20 pixels x 20 pixels. The effect of larger windows (30 pixels x 30 pixels, 40 pixels x 40 pixels, and 50 pixels x 50 pixels) was tested at the temporal rim of the optic disc.
Results: The highest reliability coefficient was reached with a scan area of 20 degrees x 5 degrees at the temporal superior rim of the optic disc (r = 0.93). Within a scan area of 20 degrees x 5 degrees, the size of the user-defined measuring window did not influence the reliability. Two models of analysis of variance disclosed that the only effect on the computed value of Flow that reached statistical significance was that because of the scan area (F = 11.172; p = 0.001). The location of the window of measurement and its size had no statistically significant effect.
Conclusion: The present results show that the location of the window of measurement has an important effect on the long-term variability of the HRF parameter, Flow. In addition, different scan areas influence significantly the computed values of this parameter.