Corneal Topography
Corneal topography is a computer assisted diagnostic tool that creates
a three-dimensional map of the surface curvature of the cornea. The cornea
(the front window of the eye) is responsible for about 70 percent of the
eye's focusing power. An eye with normal
vision has an evenly rounded cornea, but if the cornea is
too flat, too steep, or unevenly curved, less than perfect vision results.
The greatest advantage of corneal topography is its ability to detect
irregular conditions invisible to most conventional testing.
Corneal topography is a computer
assisted diagnostic tool
Corneal topography produces a detailed, visual description of the shape
and power of the cornea. This type of analysis provides your doctor with
very fine details regarding the condition of the corneal surface. These
details are used to diagnose, monitor, and treat various eye conditions.
They are also used in fitting contact lenses and for planning surgery,
including laser
vision correction. For laser vision correction the corneal
topography map is used in conjunction with other tests to determine exactly
how much corneal tissue will be removed to correct vision and with what
ablation pattern.
A detailed corneal topography map
Computerized corneal topography can be beneficial in the evaluation of
certain diseases and injuries of the cornea including:
The corneal topography equipment consists of a computer linked to a lighted
bowl that contains a pattern of rings. During a diagnostic test, the patient
sits in front of the bowl with his or her head pressed against a bar while
a series of data points are generated. Computer software digitizes these
data points to produce a printout of the corneal shape, using different
colors to identify different elevations, much like a topographic map of
the earth displays changes in the land surface. The non-contact testing
is painless and brief.
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