What is corneal topography?

Corneal topography is a test that allows us to study the form and some optical characteristics of the cornea.

 

What is the purpose of corneal topography?

Corneal topography allows us to measure the curvature of the surface of the cornea, building a coloured map in which each colour corresponds to a curvature more or less accentuated. Cool colours correspond to the points with most dishes, while the warmest in more curvatures.

 

Preparation standards

Before undergoing corneal topography it is required not to use contact lenses for at least 2-3 days.

 

Which patients can undergo the exam?

Corneal topography is a screening test helpful to everyone, it is particularly suitable for those who suffer from keratoconus (which allows us to evaluate the severity) and for patients who have to undergo refractive surgery or who have already dealt with an intervention using a laser. It's also useful for studying the effects of contact lenses on the cornea and to build the same lenses.

 

Is the exam painful or dangerous?

Corneal topography is a non-invasive test, non-contact with the patient and that does not even require the use of eye drops.

How is the exam performed?

The patient, sitting on a stool with forehead and chin propped in special facilities, must be fixed for a few seconds to a light source. To perform a corneal topography, we use a corneal topographer, a tool that captures images of the cornea by projecting on the surface of the concentric rings. The images obtained are processed by a computer able to calculate the curvature and thus return the map of the surface of the cornea.