Corneal topography changes after a 15 second pause in blinking.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of a short pause in blinking on the quantitative topographic parameters of the corneal surface.


METHODS
Refractive corneal surgery unit of a university eye hospital.


METHODS
Using a TMS-1 instrument (Computed Anatomy, Inc.), corneal topographic parameters were measured 5 and 15 seconds after a complete blink in 12 healthy subjects. The main outcome measures were changes in the surface regularity index (SRI) and the surface asymmetry index (SAI).


RESULTS
During the pause in blinking, the mean SRI value increased from 0.18 +/- 0.19 (SD) to 0.30 +/- 0.19 (P <.02) and the SAI from 0.21 +/- 0.08 to 0.24 +/- 0.10 (P =.079, not statistically significant). There were no significant changes in the values for potential visual acuity, corneal refractive power, or astigmatism.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated a significant change in corneal topography during even a short pause in blinking. In follow-up studies using corneal topography, all measurements should be done at a fixed time after a complete blink.
Németh
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Erdélyi
B
B
Csákány
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology