Abstract
Background Central corneal thickness (CCT) of 74 eyes from 39 normal Hong Kong Chinese subjects with ages ranging from 39 to 86 years were studied.
Aim & Purpose To compare the measurements of different devices and to compare the results of ethnic groups in other studies.
Methods Non-contact measurements by Orbscan and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) were first carried out, followed by contact measurement using Ultrasound Pachymetry. The results of five measurements of Ultrasound Pachymetry and three measurements of OCT and Orbscan were each averaged and compared using correlation, linear regression and one-way analysis of variance methods.
Results The measurements of three devices were significantly correlated (P < 0.01). The mean CCT in our study group measured by Orbscan (with an acoustic factor set at 0.92), Ultrasound Pachymetry and OCT were 555.96 ± 32.41, 555.11 ± 35.30 and 523.2 ± 33.54 μm respectively. A linear regression model (using ultrasound measurements as standard) was presented.
Conclusions When a correction factor of 32 μm was applied to OCT measurements, the means of three devices became significantly equal. The adjusted OCT measurements were less precise within subjects but more accurate than Orbscan when compared with ultrasound pachymetry as a reference standard. The mean CCT measurement of our sample was comparable to some studies on Hong Kong Chinese, Caucasians and Japanese but higher than those on some Europeans, Asian and North Americans of African origin.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Marsich MW, Bullimore MA . The repeatability of corneal thickness measures. Cornea 2000; 19: 792–795
Liu Z, Huang AJ, Pflugfelder SC . Evaluation of corneal thickness and topography in normal eyes using the Orbscan corneal topography system. Br J Ophthalmol 1999; 83: 774–778
Bechmann M, Thiel MJ, Neubauer AS et al. Central corneal thickness measurement with a retinal optical coherence tomography device versus standard ultrasonic pachymetry. Cornea 2001; 20: 50–54
Koop N, Brinkmann R, Lankenau E et al. Optical coherence tomography of the cornea and the anterior eye segment. Ophthalmologe 1997; 94: 481–486
Hitzenberger CK, Drexler W, Fercher AF . Measurement of corneal thickness by laser Doppler interferometry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1992; 33: 98–103
Avitabile T, Marano F, Uva MG et al. Evaluation of central and peripheral corneal thickness with ultrasound biomicroscopy in normal and keratoconic eyes. Cornea 1997; 16: 639–644
Liu Z, Plugfelder SC . Corneal thickness in dry eye. Cornea 1999; 18: 403–407
Huang D, Swanson EA, Lin CP et al. Optical coherence tomography. Science 1991; 254: 1178–1181
Wirbelauer C, Scholz C, Hoerauf H et al. Corneal optical coherence tomography before and immediately after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. Am J Ophthalmol 2000; 130: 693–699
Wheeler NC, Morantes CM, Kristensen RM et al. Reliability coefficients of three corneal pachymeters. Am J Ophthalmol 1992; 113: 645–651
Yaylali V, Kaufman SC, Thompson HW . Corneal thickness measurements with the Orbscan Topography System and ultrasonic pachymetry. J Cataract Refract Surg 1997; 23: 1345–1350
Ustundag C, Bahcecioglu H, Ozdamar A et al. Optical coherence tomography for evaluation of anatomical changes in the cornea after laser in situ keratomileusis. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000; 26: 1458–1462
Feng Y, Varikooty J, Simpson TL . Diurnal variation of corneal and corneal epithelial thickness measured using optical coherence tomography. Cornea 2001; 20: 480–483
Maldonado MJ, Ruiz-Oblitas L, Munuera JM . Optical coherence tomography evaluation of the corneal cap and stromal bed features after laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia and astigmatism. Ophthalmology 2000; 107: 81–87 discussion 88
La Rosa FA, Gross RL, Orengo-Nania S . Central corneal thickness of Caucasians and African Americans in glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous populations. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119: 23–27
Dohadwala AA, Munger R, Damji KF . Positive correlation between Tono-Pen intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness. Ophthalmology 1998; 105: 1849–1854
Olsen T, Ehlers N . The thickness of the human cornea as determined by a specular method. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1984; 62: 859–871
Nissen J, Hjortdal JO, Ehlers N et al. A clinical comparison of optical and ultrasonic pachometry. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1991; 69: 659–663
Wolfs RC, Klaver CC, Vingerling JR et al. Distribution of central corneal thickness and its association with intraocular pressure: The Rotterdam Study. Am J Ophthalmol 1997; 123: 767–772
Thomas R, Korah S, Muliyil J . The role of central corneal thickness in the diagnosis of glaucoma. Indian J Ophthalmol 2000; 48: 107–111
Kang SW, Chung ES, Kim WJ . Clinical analysis of central islands after laser in situ keratomileusis. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000; 26: 536–542
Wu LL, Suzuki Y, Ideta R et al. Central corneal thickness of normal tension glaucoma patients in Japan. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2000; 44: 643–647
Cho P, Lam C . Factors affecting the central corneal thickness of Hong Kong-Chinese. Curr Eye Res 1999; 18: 368–374
Lam AK, Douthwaite WA . The corneal-thickness profile in Hong Kong Chinese. Cornea 1998; 17: 384–388
Foster PJ, Baasanhu J, Alsbirk PH et al. Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in a Mongolian population. Ophthalmology 1998; 105: 969–973
Foster PJ, Wong JS, Wong E et al. Accuracy of clinical estimates of intraocular pressure in Chinese eyes. Ophthalmology 2000; 107: 1816–1821
Zhang SF . Corneal thickness of normal eyes in Chinese (author’s transl). Chung Hua Yen Ko Tsa Chih 1981; 17: 226–228
Alsbirk PH . Corneal thickness. I. Age variation, sex difference and oculometric correlations. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1978; 56: 95–104
Acknowledgements
Clement Wai-Nang Chan. Proprietary interest: none. Part of the data was used for analysis in a poster presentation at the XXIXth International Congress of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia, April 2002.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wong, AM., Wong, CC., Yuen, NY. et al. Correlational study of central corneal thickness measurements on Hong Kong Chinese using optical coherence tomography, Orbscan and ultrasound pachymetry. Eye 16, 715–721 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6700211
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6700211
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
The relationship of central corneal thickness with the status of diabetic retinopathy
BMC Ophthalmology (2020)
-
Agreement and repeatability of central corneal thickness measurements by four different optical devices and an ultrasound pachymeter
International Ophthalmology (2019)
-
Central corneal thickness in a Jordanian population and its association with different types of Glaucoma: cross-sectional study
BMC Ophthalmology (2018)
-
Corneal thickness, epithelial thickness and axial length differences in normal and high myopia
BMC Ophthalmology (2015)
-
Central corneal thickness in southern Egypt
International Ophthalmology (2014)


