Current Developments in Corneal Topography and Tomography

Overview

Journal Diagnostics (Basel)

Specialty Radiology

Date 2021 Aug 27

PMID 34441401

Citations 33

Authors

Piotr Kanclerz

Ramin Khoramnia

Xiaogang Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate assessment of the corneal shape is important in cataract and refractive surgery, both in screening of candidates as well as for analyzing postoperative outcomes. Although corneal topography and tomography are widely used, it is common that these technologies are confused. The aim of this study was to present the current developments of these technologies and particularly distinguish between corneal topography and tomography.

Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases were the main resources used to investigate the medical literature. The following keywords were used in various combinations: cornea, corneal, topography, tomography, Scheimpflug, Pentacam, optical coherence tomography.

Results: Topography is the study of the shape of the corneal surface, while tomography allows a three-dimensional section of the cornea to be presented. Corneal topographers can be divided into large- and small-cone Placido-based devices, as well as devices with color-LEDs. For corneal tomography, scanning slit or Scheimpflug imaging and optical coherence tomography may be employed. In several devices, corneal topography and tomography have been successfully combined with tear-film analysis, aberrometry, optical biometry and anterior/posterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Conclusion: There is a wide variety of imaging techniques to obtain corneal power maps. As different technologies are used, it is imperative that doctors involved in corneal surgery understand the science and clinical application of devices for corneal evaluation in depth.

Citing Articles

A prospective comparison of Scheimpflug-based anterior segment imaging systems in normal and abnormal corneas: Oculus Pentacam vs. Remidio Visionix VX650.

Kumar S, Negiloni K, Gupta P, K R, N N, Parthasarathy Rao D Front Ophthalmol (Lausanne). 2025; 5:1516423.

PMID: 40046896 PMC: 11879984. DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2025.1516423.

Strategies for Early Keratoconus Diagnosis: A Narrative Review of Evaluating Affordable and Effective Detection Techniques.

Gideon Abou Said A, Gispets J, Shneor E J Clin Med. 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39860468 PMC: 11765535. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14020460.

Evaluating anterior corneal surface using Placido ring mires for irregular astigmatism in refractory corneal subepithelial infiltrates after adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Toyokawa N, Araki-Sasaki K, Kimura H, Kuroda S BMC Ophthalmol. 2024; 24(1):515.

PMID: 39609742 PMC: 11603996. DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03774-2.

Stereo slit-scanning tomography of the anterior segment of the human eye.

Jimenez-Villar A, Matteson A, Huang D, Redd T, Kim D, Chen S Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):27454.

PMID: 39523379 PMC: 11551192. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78101-2.

Impact of Scleral Lenses on Visual Acuity and Ocular Aberrations in Corneal Ectasia: A Comprehensive Review.

Barone V, Petrini D, Nunziata S, Surico P, Scarani C, Offi F J Pers Med. 2024; 14(10).

PMID: 39452558 PMC: 11509004. DOI: 10.3390/jpm14101051.

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