What is topography?

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Topography measures the depth of the surface of your eye, your cornea. The picture produced by a topography machine looks like a map of a mountain range, with the different elevations shown in contrasting colours.

Topography is one of the most important safety factors in determining how suitable you are for laser eye surgery. The most basic kind of topography measures the shape of the surface at the front of your eye. The most detailed topography measures the shape of both the front and back surfaces of your cornea. Common topography machines are the Galilei™ Orbscan™, and the Pentacam™.

The Pentacam™ machine provides the most detailed topography. This is the very best option for determining changes in the shape of your cornea. It provides a 3D map of your cornea, which is essential for determining whether it is too thin for surgery to be safe. Topography should be performed both before and after treatment.