Abstract

DO.08.03

Measuring and comparing the central corneal thickness using four different techniques

Scheuerle A. F., Beutelspacher S. C.
University Eye Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg

Objective: Accurate detection of the central corneal thickness has gained much interest in the last years. In this study the results of four different techniques measuring corneal thickness are compared.
Methods: For pachymetry, Orbscan II (Bausch&Lomb), Slit-Lamp OCT (Heidelberg Engineering), OLCR-Pachymeter (Haag-Streit) und IOPac Advanced (Heidelberg-Engineering) were used utilizing different techniques for the detection of the corneal thickness: Scheimpflug-, OCT-, laser- and ultrasound-pachymetry. We examined 35 patients (70 eyes, 20 male, 15 female) without corneal pathology.
Results: In average, the corneal thickness measured with OCT, laser and ultrasound-pachymetry was 562,4±0,32 µm. No statistical significant difference was found between these three different techniques (p=0,1). The measurement using Orbscan II however showed an average central corneal thickness of 524,3±2,4µm, which was statistically significant different from the results from the results stated above.
Conclusions: All four pachymetry-techniques allow a convenient and fast detection of the central and some also of the peripheral corneal thickness. Using Orbscan II however significantly underestimates the corneal thickness. This has important implications on calculations for refractive-surgical applications or pachymetry-adapted tonometry. Nevertheless all four machines have several advantages and disadvantages, which are mainly defined by additional functions. It seems recommendable to back up the pachymetry results acquired with Orbscan II using a specialized pachymeter.

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