Evaluation of central corneal thickness measurements using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and specular microscope

Introduction
Central corneal thickness measurements are important for diagnostic purposes. It is important to know whether automated measurements obtained with different devices are replicable.

Aim
The aim of the research was to evaluate central corneal thickness measurements taken using anterior segment optical coherence tomography and specular microscope.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 46 eyes of 39 adult phakic patients admitted for routine cataract surgery. Central corneal thickness was measured using manual and automated mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography and with specular microscope in automated mode.

Results
The mean central corneal thickness measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in a manual mode and an automated mode, as well as using specular microscopy was 559.0 ± 53.0 µm, 528.0 ± 52.0 µm and 547.0 ± 54.0 µm, respectively. There was a significant difference between measurements obtained using manual and automated mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (p < .01). There was no significant difference between measurements obtained using automated mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography and specular microscopy (p > .05), as well as between measurements obtained using manual mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography and specular microscopy (p > .05).

Conclusions
All central corneal thickness measurement methods, i.e. automated and manual modes of anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and specular microscopy yield correlated results. Values obtained with automated mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography were consistently lower than results obtained with manual mode of anterior segment optical coherence tomography.