{"id":16869,"date":"2026-03-19T15:45:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/corneal-topography\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T13:42:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T11:42:37","slug":"corneal-topography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/swisslaser.pl\/en\/examinations-and-qualification\/corneal-topography\/","title":{"rendered":"Corneal Topography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Corneal Topography<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Warsaw \u00b7 Krakow \u00b7 Vienna \u00b7 Zurich<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Corneal topography is also known as keratometry (computerized\/digital or manual). During this painless and non-invasive examination, a colored map of the eye’s local corneal curvatures is created, enabling the ophthalmologist to diagnose and assess any abnormalities in the cornea’s structure and condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR TREATMENT<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What Does the Examination Involve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Corneal topography is also known as keratometry (computerized\/digital or manual). During this painless and non-invasive examination, a colored map of the eye’s local corneal curvatures is created, enabling the ophthalmologist to diagnose and assess any abnormalities in the cornea’s structure and condition. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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How Is the Corneal Shape Examined?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A keratoscope (Placido disk), which is a disk with black and white circles, allows observation of the shape of the circle reflections on the cornea. Manual keratoscopes are increasingly less common, as ophthalmologists and optometrists now have computerized\/digital videokeratographs at their disposal. This examination uses an image of the Placido disk projected onto the corneal surface, which is then recorded by a camera, sent to a computer, and analyzed. The results of the examination include a corneal map, a cross-section of the corneal surface, and a map of the digital values of corneal curvatures. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Gold Standard in Astigmatism Measurement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Specialists still use the Javal ophthalmometer (keratometer), a manual keratometer, to measure corneal curvatures in two main meridians. These measurements allow for precise determination of the magnitude and axes of astigmatism. Manual keratometry is the gold standard for assessing the power and axis of astigmatism in toric intraocular lens calculations. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Corneal Examination Before Lens Selection and Surgery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Corneal topography<\/strong> is one of the most important examinations when planning the selection of artificial implantable lenses used in the treatment of myopia<\/a><\/strong>, hyperopia<\/a><\/strong>, astigmatism<\/a><\/strong> <\/a>and cataracts<\/a><\/strong>. It is a particularly important tool for qualifying patients for the appropriate type of lens. It can also diagnose keratoconus, assessing its stage and potential progression. To evaluate the patient’s eye condition, results from individual corneal topography, for example, from a year ago and the current examination, are compared. Depending on the changes that have occurred during this time, actions are taken to halt changes in the cornea. Corneal topography also allows for the diagnosis of postoperative or post-traumatic corneal deformities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corneal topography, as mentioned, is most often performed using a digital\/computerized videokeratograph. The patient rests their chin and forehead on a support in front of a dome illuminated by red light. The dome is covered with concentric black rings that reflect on the cornea during the examination. During the examination, the patient must look steadily, without blinking, at a centrally placed light point. The reflections of the circles\/rings (described above) on the cornea, their width, and distortions are recorded and analyzed by computer, then converted into corneal curvature radii. The resulting corneal map can be two- or three-dimensional. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Does a Thin Cornea Exclude Surgery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a belief that this examination is decisive for a patient’s eligibility for surgery. Patients fear that a cornea that is too thin is equivalent to disqualification. However, a cornea that is too thin may, but does not necessarily, be a contraindication to the procedure. Corneal thickness is measured during an examination called pachymetry (optical non-contact or contact using an ultrasound probe). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Which Examinations Determine Surgery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the cornea is too thin, but other (numerous!) parameters of the eye to be laser-operated, checked by the specialist, are normal, the laser can be programmed to perform such an operation (depending on the degree of the refractive error). We distinguish between so-called Scheimpflug or OCT topographies, which also measure corneal thickness and other anatomical parameters of the anterior segment of the eye, and so-called Placido topographies, which only measure the regularity of the anterior part of the cornea (without pachymetry). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the Eye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Corneal tomography also allows for determining the depth of the anterior chamber, the iridocorneal angle, and the size of any shape changes, scars, or inhomogeneities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During computerized keratometry, the doctor can observe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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