Orbscan
The Orbscan is a valuable tool used pre-operatively to aid in determining candidacy of patients. This machine takes a 3-D picture of the eye, mapping the elevation of the cornea. The Orbscan measures elevation on the anterior (front) and posterior (rear) surface of the cornea. It also measures corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth.
The Orbscan test itself takes about 5 minutes and is completely painless. The patient sits at the machine and rests his or her head in the headrest. The Technologist begins the testing. The patient must keep his or her eyes open and focused for approximately 4 seconds, during which time many flashing lights are seen. The pictures take 1-2 minutes to process.
The result of the Orbscan will help evaluate whether the candidate has enough corneal tissue for laser refractive surgery. Results will also show irregularities in the cornea that are difficult to detect by other means. The Orbscan is one important step in determining whether LASIK will be an effective procedure for each individual patient.
