Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

Reproducibility of ultrasound pachymetry using the Sonogage Corneo-Gage Plus 2.

Rah MJ, Deng L, Jackson JM

New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. rahm@neco.edu

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility of measurements made using the Sonogage Corneo-Gage Plus 2 (Cleveland, Ohio) ultrasound pachymeter of total corneal and corneal epithelial thickness in 5 different regions of the cornea. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) and 20 subjects at the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) were enrolled in this study. Measurements were taken of the central cornea as well as the nasal and temporal regions of the midperipheral and peripheral regions of the right cornea of each subject. Identical measurements were again taken in these subjects 1 week later at approximately the same time of day. Within-subject variations were then assessed using paired t tests. RESULTS: The only significant measurement differences that were found between visits were for full corneal thickness at both the nasal and temporal midperipheral locations. The mean differences for these locations were 13.5 microm and 13.7 microm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial corneal thickness and central and peripheral total corneal thickness measurements using the Corneo-Gage Plus 2 pachymeter were reproducible; however, midperipheral total corneal thickness measurements showed poor reproducibility.

Published 31 July 2006 in Optometry, 77(8): 392-6.
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