Evaluation of corneal topography: past, present and future trends.

The keratometer and photokeratoscope have long been the standard instruments for measuring corneal curvature. The recent development of computer-assisted photokeratoscopy has greatly enhanced the evaluation of corneal topography, helping improve our understanding of both normal and abnormal topography and their influence on visual acuity. The authors review normal corneal topography and compare various tools, both new and old, currently available for evaluating corneal contour. Case studies are presented to illustrate some of the clinical and research applications of computer-assisted photokeratoscopy in an ophthalmology practice. Future applications of computer-assisted photokeratoscopy include intraoperative topography, the design of custom-fitted contact lenses and combination with ray-tracing analysis.