Question 1

does corneal thickness affect how well you can see?

Accepted Answer

Not if normal: Corneal thickness in the undisturbed eye, has no effect on the refraction (need for glasses) or the basic vision.  If the corneal thickness is disturbed by surgery, or certain illnesses, then the vision can be substantially altered.

Question 2

in glaucoma is a central corneal thickness reading  of 516 considered very thin?

Accepted Answer

A little: Average corneal thickness is 550. 516 is not terribly thin.  A corrected intra-ocular pressure is approximately + 2.

Question 3

have glaucoma & received 2 opinions. one dr said corneal thickness was 510 + 2  & other said 516. why would the readings be different?

Accepted Answer

The same: There is no statistical difference between a thickness of 510 and 516.  Insignificant differences in technique can make this difference and again it really is not different.

Question 4

as part of glaucoma diagnosis i was told that i have low normal central corneal thickness. does this mean below average thickness of cornea?

Accepted Answer

Yes: You are at risk for glaucoma and should have visual field and optic nerve analysis and be followed more closely.

Question 5

if corneal thickness is 510 + 2 and eye pressure reading is 15, then is the true pressure 17?  (i'm using travatan z).

Accepted Answer

No: Most ophthalmologists do not adjust pressures based on corneal thickness.  The important measurement is the pressure drop that occurred with treatment.  If you have 20-30 percent drop, you are fine.

Question 6

how do doctors determine corneal thickness when you decide to undergo the lasik surgery?

Accepted Answer

Several ways: There are a number of ways to measure corneal thickness. Ultrsound is the most common way. Also, there are a number of optical ways to determine corneal thickness using different forms of topography or optical coherence tomography (oct).

Question 7

my corneal thickness is 504(myopic -2.00) and 509 (myopic -2.25)  can i have intralase lasik surgery?  would it be too risky ?

Accepted Answer

LASIK vs PRK: Lasik is still an option with your thin cornea as long as your topography is normal because your prescription is quite mild. However prk (essentially lasik without the flap) might be an even safer option. Although prk is a bit slower healing, the resulting vision is equally good with no risk of flap complications or structural weakening of the cornea.

Question 8

corneal  thickness is 510+ 2. in glaucoma does that mean you add 2 points to my eye pressure reading of 15?

Accepted Answer

Generally yet: There is a nomogram relating corneal thickness to internal pressure and at a thickness of 510 (on the thinner side) the pressure estimate is 2 points higher.  If your eye pressure is 15, that is comfortably in the normal range.  Are you being treated to lower your pressure to that level?

Question 9

eye exam (age 36 & no family history of glaucoma) - iop was 21 in both eyes and corneal thickness 550 and 575. gdx test and visual field test"normal". optic nerve also looked healthy on dilated exam. what does this mean in terms of glaucoma risk?

Accepted Answer

: It appears that your risk is low however I would repeat all testing in 1 year for confirmation of continued normality.

Question 10

is there any device to measure the actual thickness of the cornea?

Accepted Answer

Pachymeter: The pachymeter is a standard device in ophthalmologists office to measure corneal thickness.  It is part of a standard glaucoma work up and is used to monitor corneal edema and disease.

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Doctor answers about:

How to measure corneal thickness

A member asked:

Does corneal thickness affect how well you can see?

A member asked:

In glaucoma is a central corneal thickness reading of 516 considered very thin?

A member asked:

Have glaucoma & received 2 opinions. one dr said corneal thickness was 510 + 2 & other said 516. why would the readings be different?

A member asked:

As part of glaucoma diagnosis i was told that i have low normal central corneal thickness. does this mean below average thickness of cornea?

A member asked:

If corneal thickness is 510 + 2 and eye pressure reading is 15, then is the true pressure 17? (i'm using travatan z).

A member asked:

How do doctors determine corneal thickness when you decide to undergo the lasik surgery?

A member asked:

My corneal thickness is 504(myopic -2.00) and 509 (myopic -2.25) can i have intralase lasik surgery? would it be too risky ?

A member asked:

Corneal thickness is 510+ 2. in glaucoma does that mean you add 2 points to my eye pressure reading of 15?

A member asked:

Eye exam (age 36 & no family history of glaucoma) - iop was 21 in both eyes and corneal thickness 550 and 575. gdx test and visual field test"normal". optic nerve also looked healthy on dilated exam. what does this mean in terms of glaucoma risk?

A member asked:

Is there any device to measure the actual thickness of the cornea?

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