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Published on: October 21, 2022
Evaluating central corneal thickness measurements with noncontact optical low-coherence reflectometry and contact
Suzanna Airiani1, Stephen L Trokel, Shing M Lee
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Purpose:
To compare the central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements obtained with noncontact optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) and ultrasound (US) pachymetry.
Design:
Prospective, comparative observational study.
Methods:
Three sequential ultrasonic measurements and a set of five OLCR scans of 52 eyes of 26 healthy subjects were recorded. Noncontact measurement was repeated five minutes after anesthetic drop instillation.
Results:
Mean CCT values for noncontact OLCR and US pachymetry were 544.03 microm and 548.66 microm, respectively, with mean SDs of 0.97 microm and 4.63 microm, respectively. Noncontact OLCR measured on average 4.64 microm less than US pachymetry (95% confidence interval -7.56 to -1.72; P = .003). The OLCR measured 1.68 microm less than US pachymetry in the thinner cornea group (< or =548.7 microm, n = 24) and 7.48 mum less in the thicker group (n = 25). This difference was statistically significant (P = .04).
Conclusions:
There was agreement between the two pachymetric measurements. Noncontact OLCR appeared to measure slightly smaller than US pachymetry.
