[Use of the confocal laser scanning method for determining corneal topography and corneal tissue effects in refractive corneal surgery].

Refraction of the cornea head been generally measured with ophthalmometers or computer disk keratometers. We therefore used a confocal laser scanning system for measurement of the corneal topography. Enucleated tonicized pig eyes were measured before and after laser thermokeratoplasty (LTK). The topographical data were used to determine refraction and refractive change; the data were stored digitally. The single images and their differences were displayed on a PC. Unlike conventional ophthalmometry, confocal laser scanning can demonstrate the topographical shape, showing the overall topography of the cornea and local corneal effects, e.g., coagulation, mechanical lesions or high-energy laser effects. Topographical laser scanning has proven to be a generally useful method of determining refraction and surface alterations in corneal refractive surgery.