What is it?

Corneal Pachymetry is a non-invasive technique for measuring corneal thickness.

 What is it done for?

Pachymetry is used primarily in the evaluation of patients with corneal diseases and in the assessment of patients at risk for glaucoma.

  How is it done?

Ultrasonic corneal pachymetry is performed by placing an ultrasonic probe on the central cornea, after the cornea has been anesthetized with a topical anesthetic.

What are the benefits?

It is done for certain corneal diseases keratoconus, bullous keratopathy and corneal oedema.Corneal refractive surgeries (lasik) corneal transplant surgeries. It is used for patients with glaucoma or glaucoma suspect.

What are the limitations?

Keratoconus patients and in patients with thin corneas.Thickness<500 microns is limited for lasik surgery, <450 microns is a relative contraindication for surface laser.

How much time is taken?

The time taken for both eye is approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

When is to be repeated?

As per doctors advise.

The cost may vary from one hospital to the other

Dr. Sanjay Dhawan, New Delhi, India.
Updated on 13 May 2011