Pachymetry

Pachymetry is a simple, painless diagnostic test that measures the thickness of your cornea, the clear front part of your eye. This quick measurement is crucial for determining your eligibility for vision correction surgeries like LASIK and for accurately managing certain eye conditions. At Pristine Eye Hospitals, we use this advanced technology to ensure the highest standards of safety and care for your vision.

What is a Pachymetry?

Pachymetry provides your ophthalmologist with a precise measurement of your Central Corneal Thickness (CCT), recorded in microns (a millionth of a meter). This is accomplished using either a gentle ultrasound probe or non-contact optical technology. Understanding your cornea’s thickness is vital because it can influence eye pressure readings and is a key safety parameter for many surgical procedures.

Why is this test performed?

Your doctor may recommend a pachymetry test for several important reasons:

LASIK & PRK Suitability: To confirm if your cornea is thick enough to safely undergo laser vision correction. A cornea that is too thin can increase the risk of complications.

Glaucoma Management: Corneal thickness can affect the accuracy of intraocular pressure (IOP) readings. Pachymetry allows for a more precise assessment of your true eye pressure, which is critical for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma.

Monitoring Corneal Conditions: To track the progression of diseases that affect the cornea, such as Keratoconus (a thinning and bulging of the cornea) or Fuchs’ Dystrophy.

Pre-Surgical Evaluation: As part of a comprehensive eye exam before cataract surgery or a corneal transplant to assess the overall health of the cornea.

How to Prepare for Your Pachymetry

This test requires very little preparation, making it a convenient part of your eye examination. However, to ensure the most accurate results, please keep the following in mind:

Inform our team about any prescription or over-the-counter eye drops you are currently using.

If you wear contact lenses, you will be asked to remove them before the test begins. It is a good idea to bring your eyeglasses with you.

There is no need to arrange for a driver, as the test does not affect your vision.

The Procedure: What to Expect Step-by-Step

The entire pachymetry procedure is quick, efficient, and comfortable.

1. You will be seated comfortably in the examination chair. Your ophthalmologist or technician will administer a numbing anesthetic eye drop to ensure you feel nothing during the test.

2. Using an ultrasound pachymeter, a small, sterile, pen-like probe will be gently touched to the surface of your cornea for a second. If an optical pachymeter is used, a scan will be taken without any contact with your eye.

3. The device instantly calculates and displays the corneal thickness measurement.

4. The process is repeated for the other eye. The entire measurement for both eyes takes less than a minute.

Understanding Your Results

Your pachymetry results are given as a number in microns. The average human cornea is about 540-550 microns thick. Your ophthalmologist at Pristine Eye Hospitals will interpret this measurement in the context of your overall eye health and the reason for the test.

A cornea that is thinner than average may make you an unsuitable candidate for LASIK, or it could suggest an underlying condition like keratoconus. Importantly, corneal thickness also helps your doctor correctly interpret your eye pressure readings. Thinner corneas can lead to artificially low pressure readings, while thicker corneas can result in falsely high readings. This calibration is essential for accurate glaucoma management.

Frequently Asked Questions