Corneal pachymetry

A pachymeter (sometimes called Pachometer, from Ancient Greek παχύς pachýs "thick " and μέτρον métron " tool to measure " ) is a measuring instrument for measuring the thickness of the cornea of the human eye.

The corneal thickness is relevant to the correct determination of intraocular pressure by tonometry, since the measurement is influenced at all common methods of corneal thickness. Default value of the corneal thickness is 550 microns.

Another important role of pachymetry comes to various eye surgeries in the preparation.

For use, two different procedures:

  • The non-contact optical measurement ( optical coherence pachymeter, English OCP ) and
  • Determining by means of ultrasound, in which a small ultrasound transducer is placed on the cornea.

Both methods allow the determination of corneal thickness on some micrometer. The former method is used by many ophthalmologists as individual health service ( " IGeL " ) offered or advertised.

Literature and notes

  • Tamara Myers: Mosby 's Medical Dictionary. 8th edition. Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis MO 2009, ISBN 978-0-323-05290-0.
  • A diagnostic aid in ophthalmology
  • Diagnostic device
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