Utility of the Noncontact Specular Microscopy for Measurements of Central Corneal Thickness

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of noncontact specular microscopy (NCSM) by comparing the measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) to the measurement with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound pachymetry (USP). METHODS: One examiner measured the CCT of 50 eyes of 50 healthy young subjects using NCSM, AS-OCT, and USP. The mean values and correlations were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean CCT value was 546.92 +/- 32.06 microm with NCSM, 535.24 +/- 30.54 microm with AS-OCT, and 546.38 +/- 30.70 microm with USP. The CCT measurements with NCSM and USP were significantly thicker than with AS-OCT (p 0.900 in all groups, p < 0.001 in all groups). CONCLUSIONS: CCT measurements of healthy eyes using NCSM are more correlated with USP than AS-OCT. The CCT measurement using NCSM is a better alternative for USP than AS-OCT.