Optical Pachymetry is an eye examination aimed at determining the thickness of the cornea whose normal value, in the central area, is between 520 – 540 microns.
Knowledge of corneal thickness is an extremely useful parameter in different cases:
- for those who use contact lenses. In case of prolonged and continuous use of contact lenses, an abnormal increase in the thickness of the cornea may occur. Contact lenses reduce corneal oxygenation and if this deficiency is particularly strong, endothelial cells, which have the function of maintaining a certain level of dehydration of the cornea, are unable to work properly. Inflammation fo the cornea may appear;
- before each refractive surgery for laser correction of myopia and other refractive deficits such as astigmatism and farsightedness;
- for monitoring corneal diseases such as keratoconus and evaluating interventions such as cross-linking;
- for patients suffering from glaucoma as it allows to define the measurement of eye pressure.
Quick, painless and non-invasive as there is no contact with the ocular surface, no contact optical pachymetry can be performed on patients of any age, without the need to instill anesthetic eye drops.
It is performed by placing the chin and forehead on a special chin guard while the ophthalmologist uses an optical tomography (OCT) to acquire the measurement of the complete corneal thickness in a few seconds.
