Comparison Of The Epithelium Map From The Anterion And A New Corneal Imaging Device

This on-going study aims to compare the epithelium map and other parameters provided by the Anterion OCT (Heidelberg Engeneering, Heidelberg, Germany), based on swept-source OCT technology, with that of a newly developed device (Pentacam Cornea-OCT, Oculus, Germany).

University Eye Clinic Heidelberg, Germany

The newly introduced Pentacam Cornea OCT combines a Scheimpflug camera with Fourier-Domain OCT, offering ultra-high-resolution imaging of the entire cornea with an axial resolution of 1.9 µm and a transverse resolution of 10 µm. Additionally, the device utilizes a "wide-angle pericentric scan" to generate sharp and detailed images of both the central and peripheral cornea. It provides an epithelium map with a maximum coverage of 12 mm, displaying epithelial thickness variations across different segments.

This on-going study evaluates the comparability and reproducibility of the epithelium maps for both normal and pathological corneas using both devices. Healthy volunteers as well as patients with various corneal pathologies especially keratoconus are examined. Morphology and metric parameter such as epithelium map, corneal thickness, power maps, and other anatomical data are measured and statistically analysed.

The Pentacam has been an established and widely used device in ophthalmology for over 20 years. It employs a rotating scan to capture 25 Scheimpflug images of the cornea and anterior eye segment. The combination of a Scheimpflug camera with Fourier-Domain OCT, offering ultra-high-resolution imaging of the entire cornea offers unique new insides and possebilities to analyse the anterior segment for corneal pathologies and refractive surgical planning.