Central corneal thickness measurements with partial coherence interferometry, ultrasound, and the Orbscan system

Georg Rainer*, Oliver Findl, Vanessa Petternel, Barbara Kiss, Wolfgang Drexler, Christian Skorpik, Michael Georgopoulos, Leopold Schmetterer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

97 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective To compare the reliability of central corneal thickness measurements (CCT) obtained with partial coherence interferometry (PCI), ultrasound pachymetry, and the Orbscan system. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Twenty healthy subjects with CCT measurements in both eyes. Methods The CCT measurements were obtained with PCI, ultrasound pachymetry, and the Orbscan system. In each eye, 2 investigators performed 5 repeated measurements with each pachymetric device. Intraclass correlation coefficients (κ) were calculated and mean CCT measurements were compared. Main outcome measures The CCT measurements obtained with ultrasound pachymetry, the Orbscan system (Orbtek Inc., Salt Lake City, UT), and PCI. Results Mean CCT values measured with ultrasound pachymetry were significantly thicker than those measured with PCI (21.5 μm; P<0.001) or the Orbscan system (19.8 μm; P<0.001). The correlation coefficients for the intraobserver variability were 0.999 for PCI measurements, 0.983 for ultrasound pachymetry measurements, and 0.988 for Orbscan system measurements. The correlation coefficients for the interobserver variability were 0.998 for PCI measurements, 0.980 for ultrasound pachymetry measurements, and 0.988 for Orbscan system measurements. There was a slightly better consistency between ultrasound pachymetry and PCI (κ = 0.96) than between the Orbscan system and PCI (κ = 0.92) and between ultrasound pachymetry and the Orbscan system (κ = 0.89). Conclusions Partial coherence interferometry was the method with the least intraobserver or interobserver variability. Mean CCT as measured with ultrasound pachymetry was approximately 20 μm thicker than with the Orbscan system and PCI. However, corneal thickness measurements with ultrasound pachymetry and PCI were slightly more consistent than those of the Orbscan system and PCI. This slightly better consistency, however, may be important, especially in corneal refractive surgery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)875-879
Number of pages5
JournalOphthalmology
Volume111
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2004
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Ophthalmology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Central corneal thickness measurements with partial coherence interferometry, ultrasound, and the Orbscan system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this