A comparative study of central corneal thickness using an ultrasonic pachymeter and a noncontact specular microscope in adult patients coming to the ophthalmology outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital in Western India

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate and compare the accuracy of measuring central corneal thickness (CCT) using an ultrasonic pachymeter and a noncontact specular microscope and whether they can be used interchangeably in adult patients with healthy cornea. Methodology: A comparative and observational study was carried out in adult patients coming to the ophthalmology outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary care hospital in Western India. In all patients, CCT is measured using an ultrasonic pachymeter and a noncontact specular microscope to perform a comparative study. Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test. Two-tailed hypothesis was applied. Results: This study included a sample size of 300 eyes of 150 adult patients. We want to test whether CCT values by Ultrasound Pachymeter and Noncontact specular Microscope is significantly different for right eyes and left eyes of the same patients, therefor we applied paired t-test for statistical analysis. T value for the right eye CCT measurement was −0.4 and the value of P was 0.69. T value for the left eye CCT measurement was −0.79 and the value of P was 0.43. P > 0.05 suggested that the results were nonsignificant. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the noncontact specular microscope produces CCT values that do not vary significantly from ultrasonic pachymeter. In subjects with healthy cornea, ultrasound pachymeter and specular microscope can be used interchangeably.