Comparison of Corneal Thickness Measurements Between Orbscan Topography System and Ultrasonic Pachymetry before and after LASIK

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the difference of the values of the corneal thickness measurement measured by Orbscan topography system and ultrasonic pachymetry is different between pre-LASIK and post-LASIK. METHODS: The corneal thickness measured by these two methods was compared in 32 pre-LASIK eyes of 18 subjects and 31 post-LASIK eyes of 20 subjects passed 3 months after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). RESULTS: In the pre-LASIK eyes, the cornea measured thicker by Orbscan topography system than by ultrasonic pachymeter (16.94+/-13.1 microgram, average +/- standard deviation, p=0.001). In the post-LASIK eyes, there was no statistically significant difference in the values of corneal thickness measurement between two methods (-9.58+/-27.88 microgram, p=0.0653). CONCLUSION: We must give attention to the interpretation of values of corneal thickness measurement measured by Orbscan topography system and ultrasonic pachymetry because the correlations between the two methods in pre and post-LASIK eyes are different. We assume that differences of the values of measurement between the two methods may result from either technical errors of the measurers , interference of corneal interface, or change of tear film.