Corneal Topography

Corneal topography provides us with the most detailed possible information about the curvature of the eye and potential eyesight and eye disease issues.

Using a very sophisticated computer and software, thousands of measurements are taken and analyzed in just seconds. The computer generates a colour map from the data. This information is useful to evaluate and correct astigmatism, monitor corneal disease, and detect irregularities in the corneal shape.

Corneal topography is interpreted much like other topography maps. The cool shades of blue and green represent flatter areas of the cornea, while the warmer shades of orange and red and represent steeper areas. This corneal map allows the optometrist to formulate a “3-D” perspective of the cornea’s shape. Measuring astigmatism is important for fitting contact lenses, and calculating lens power.

Corneal topography is a process for mapping the surface curvature of the cornea, similar to making a contour map of land. The cornea is a clear membrane that covers the front of the eye and is responsible for about 70 percent of the eye’s focusing power. To a large extent, the shape of the cornea determines the visual ability of an otherwise healthy eye but if the cornea is too flat, too steep, or unevenly curved, less than optimum vision results can occur.

The purpose of corneal topography is to produce a detailed description of the shape and power of the cornea. At Ezekiel Eyes we use computerized imaging technology, and the 3-dimensional map produced by the corneal topographer aids us in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various visual conditions.