Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What does corneal topography primarily measure?

1. Anatomical structure of the eye

2. Anterior corneal curvature

3. Posterior corneal thickness

4. Corneal transparency

The correct answer is: Anterior corneal curvature

Corneal topography primarily measures the anterior corneal curvature. This technique creates a detailed map of the corneal surface, enabling the visualization of the curvature at various points across the cornea. By analyzing the shape and elevation data collected from the front surface of the cornea, clinicians can detect abnormalities such as keratoconus, astigmatism, and other corneal irregularities. Understanding the anterior corneal curvature is crucial for various clinical applications, including the fitting of contact lenses and assessing the cornea before and after surgical procedures such as LASIK. This non-invasive imaging technique helps in planning treatment and monitoring disease progression by providing precise measurements of the cornea’s shape and topography. Other options, while related to aspects of corneal assessment, do not directly reflect the main focus of corneal topography. The anatomical structure of the eye encompasses a broader range of metrics beyond just curvature, and posterior corneal thickness is typically measured using other methods like optical coherence tomography (OCT) rather than topography. Corneal transparency refers to the clarity of the cornea, which is not a focus of topographic mapping since it assesses shape rather than optical quality.