To investigate the frequency and characteristics of artifacts which can cause errors in retinal nerve fiber layer nalysis using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The frequency, characteristics and retinal lesions responsible for the artifact were analyzed for 179 patients (338 eyes) by OCT. All images were categorized into two groups according to the presence of artifacts and then, the differences between the two groups were analyzed by t-test and cross-tabulation analysis in terms of age, refractive error, peripapillary atrophic areas, and type of glaucoma.

The male to female ratio was 1.37:1, average age was 47.6±15.7 years and average degree of refraction was -1.78±0.23 diopter. Artifacts were noted in 64 eyes (18.9%), and were present in the temporal quadrant in 12 eyes (18.8%), superior quadrant in 51 eyes (79.7%), nasal quadrant in 19 eyes (87.5%), and inferior quadrant in 8 eyes (48.4%). The average angle of the artifact was 138 degrees. Although retinal lesion, age, and glaucoma type were not significantly different between the two groups, peripapillary atrophy and myopia were significantly more common in the group with the artifact.

When analyzing retinal nerve fiber layer by OCT, artifacts should be considered, especially in cases of peripapillary atrophy and myopia.