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Comparison of central corneal thickness (CCT) in normal eyes using ultrasound pachymetry, non contact specular microscopy and Scheimpflug camera

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First Author: K.Soulantzou GREECE

Co Author(s):    A. Plakitsi   E. Karmiris                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare and analyze the interchangeability of ultrasonic pachymetry (USP, PACHMATE 2, DGH, Inc, Exton, PA, USA), non contact specular microscopy (NCSM, CEM-530, Nidek CO, LTD, Gamagori, Japan) and Scheimpflug Camera (Pentacam® HR, OCULUS, Wetzlar, Germany), which measure central corneal thickness (CCT).

Setting:

251 General Hospital of Hellenic Air force, Athens, Greece
 University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

Methods:

One hundred and eight healthy volunteers were recruited for a sample size of 216 eyes. All subjects had pachymetric measurments by ultrasound pachymetry, non-contact specular microscopy and Scheimpflug Camera. A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was performed in the outpatient ophthalmology clinic. Same examiner performed all examinations. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between instruments.

Results:

The mean of CCT (SD ±) was 560.30 ± 31.51, 556.76 ± 29.27 and 547.31 ± 30.24 μm for USP, NCSM and Pentacam HR, respectively. There was high correlations between USP and NCSM (r = 0.976, p < 0.0001), USP and Pentacam HR (r = 0.964, p < 0.0001) and NCSM and Pentacam HR(r = 0.974, p < 0.0001). The CCT measurements obtained by USP and NCSM did not have statistically significant difference. The measurements obtained by Pentacam HR were significantly lower than the measurements by ultrasound pachymetry (p < 0.0001) and non-contact specular microscopy (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Ultrasound pachymetry, non-contact specular microscopy can be used interchangeably as they gave comparable CCT measurements. However, Pentacam HR generated lower results than the other two methods.

Financial Disclosure:

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