Anterior chamber depth measurements obtained with Pentacam HR® imaging system and conventional A-scan ultrasound

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2011 May-Jun;42(3):248-53. doi: 10.3928/15428877-20110210-04. Epub 2011 Feb 17.

Abstract

Background and objective: To evaluate the reliability and repeatability of anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements obtained with the rotating Scheimpflug camera and conventional A-scan ultrasound.

Patients and methods: The right eyes of 46 healthy volunteers were examined. ACD was determined first with the Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and then by ultrasound (AL-2000; Tomey, Tennenlohe, Germany).

Results: The mean ACD results were significantly shallower when obtained with the Pentacam HR (Investigator 1: 2.89 ± 0.41 mm; Investigator 2: 2.90 ± 0.41 mm) than with ultrasound (Investigator 1: 3.08 ± 0.43 mm, P < .0001; Investigator 2: 3.00 ± 0.45, P = .0005). Significant and strong correlation was observed between the two techniques (Investigator 1: r = 0.937; Investigator 2: r = 0.913).

Conclusion: ACD measurements obtained with the Pentacam HR seemed to be reliable and repeatable when the cornea was optically clear. The significant differences between the Pentacam HR and ultrasound indicate that the two devices should not be used interchangeably for ACD measurements.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Chamber / anatomy & histology*
  • Anterior Chamber / diagnostic imaging
  • Anthropometry / methods
  • Biometry
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / instrumentation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Photography / instrumentation*
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography*