What is corneal pachymetry?
This is the measurement of corneal thickness – usually the central corneal thickness (CCT).
Why is pachymetry performed?
There are several reasons for doing this test:
- to help calibrate intraocular pressure readings (or, as some would put it, to stratify risk of glaucoma)
- to monitor corneal endothelial dysfunction (eg in Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy)
- prior to surgery involving corneal relaxing incisions (usually peripheral corneal thickness is measured for this reason)
How is pachymetry performed?
There are a variety of different machines that are capable of measuring corneal thickness, including:
- ultrasound probes
- anterior segment OCT
- corneal topographers including Scheimpflug devices
