Comparison of optical coherence reflectometry and ultrasound central corneal pachymetry

In 50 eyes of 25 patients we prospectively measured the central corneal thickness (CCT) comparing the OLCR (Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry) pachymeter with the contact ultrasound pachymeter. The OLCR system was mounted on to a Haag-Streit slit lamp. Every single measurement was the result of 5 scans. With the contact ultrasound Sonomed pachymeter we performed 5 separate measurements and calculated the mean. The correlation between the two measurements was excellent (r = 0.99). The mean standard deviation (SD) of the measurements taken with the non-contact OLCR pachymeter was significantly lower than with the contact ultrasound pachymeter, 0.49 microm and 4.71 microm respectively (p < 0.01). The variability of the CCT measurements taken with the non-contact OLCR pachymeter is significantly lower than the variability of the CCT measurements taken with the contact ultrasound pachymetry.