The Importance of Corneal Topography

Corneal topography is a vital diagnostic tool in any ophthalmology practice. Since the majority of the refractive power of the eye is in the cornea, topography can be critical in determining the quality of a patient’s vision.


Corneal topography maps the curvature of the cornea by using a special camera that photographs a pattern of concentric lighted rings onto the corneal surface. Several maps are produced that carry different information. The images are analyzed to produce a detailed map of the cornea and are useful in showing areas that are irregular or steeper or flatter than others. It can help diagnose diseases such as keratoconus. Corneal topography is also important in picking intraocular lenses for cataract surgery, and for planning refractive surgeries such as LASIK, as well as assessing their outcomes.

Corneal topography is an essential element of a LASIK screening. If you are interested in having LASIK surgery, please call Eyecare Medical Group at 1-888-374-2020 to set up a free screening.