The Straits Eye Centre @ Camden
Camden Medical Centre
1 Orchard Boulevard, #06-07/08 & #12-04
Singapore 248649
- Nearest MRT
- Orchard Boulevard (TE13)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
Pachymetry
A measurement of how thick the cornea is, read alongside an eye pressure reading. It takes seconds and does not hurt.
- Senior Consultant Eye Surgeons
- 50+ combined years in ophthalmology
- Seven clinics in six locations islandwide
Camden (Orchard)Joo ChiatClementiBedokToa PayohJurong
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What pachymetry is
Pachymetry measures how thick the cornea is, the clear front of the eye.
The figure is usually taken at the centre, the central corneal thickness or CCT, in micrometres. On average it is a little over half a millimetre, and it varies from person to person.
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The cornea is measured at its centre
How pachymetry is done
Seconds for each eye, in one of two ways.
- With a small probe. A numbing drop goes in first, then the probe touches the centre of the cornea for a moment and reads its thickness by ultrasound.
- With light. Some machines measure it without touching the eye, sometimes as part of an OCT scan of the front of the eye.
Neither is painful.
Told your eye pressure is raised? Tell our friendly staff what you have been told and they will arrange the right appointment.
Why corneal thickness matters for eye pressure
The two numbers are read as a pair.
An eye pressure reading is taken through the cornea, so its thickness shifts the number.
- A thick cornea can make the pressure read higher than it is.
- A thin cornea can make it read lower, which is also why a reading can be lower after laser eye surgery.
In people with raised eye pressure, a thinner cornea has been linked with a higher chance of glaucoma developing, one more reason the two are read together.
The pressure test itself is tonometry, and the drainage angle is looked at with gonioscopy. What a raised reading can mean is covered under glaucoma.
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A thicker cornea: a pressure reading can come out higher
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A thinner cornea: it can come out lower
Pachymetry Cost in Singapore
Pachymetry is done during an eye specialist consultation, as required. These are our eye specialist consultation fees; please enquire for the test itself.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Camden (Orchard) and Parkway East (Joo Chiat) | |
| First consultation | $174.40 |
| Follow-up consultation | $119.90 |
| Pachymetry | Please enquire |
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong | |
| First consultation | $130.80 |
| Follow-up consultation | $98.10 |
| Pachymetry | Please enquire |
All fees shown are nett. Any tests you need are decided at your consultation.
Where can I do a Pachymetry Test in Singapore?
Seven clinics, at six addresses. The consultation fee depends on the clinic, as the table above shows.
The Straits Eye and Myopia Clinic @ Camden
Camden Medical Centre
1 Orchard Boulevard, #12-04
Singapore 248649
- Nearest MRT
- Orchard Boulevard (TE13)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
The Straits Eye Centre for Kids & Adults @ Parkway East
Parkway East Medical Centre
319 Joo Chiat Place, #03-03
Singapore 427989
- Nearest MRT
- Eunos (EW7)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
The Straits Eye Community Clinic @ Clementi
Blk 443 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-69
Singapore 120443
In Clementi New Town Centre
- Nearest MRT
- Clementi (EW23)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
The Straits Eye Community Clinic @ Bedok
211 New Upper Changi Rd, #01-743
Singapore 460211
In Bedok New Town Centre
- Nearest MRT
- Bedok (EW5)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
The Straits Eye Community Clinic @ Toa Payoh
Blk 185 Toa Payoh Central, #01-320
Singapore 310185
- Nearest MRT
- Toa Payoh (NS19)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
The Straits Eye Community Clinic @ Jurong
21 Jurong Gateway Rd, #02-07
Singapore 608546
In CPF Jurong Office Building
- Nearest MRT
- Jurong East (EW24/NS1)
- Directions
- Open in Maps
Have your eyes checked
Send us a message with what you have been told and a time that suits, and our staff will arrange the appointment.
Common questions
Is pachymetry painful?
No. With the probe, the eye is numbed first and the probe touches it for a moment. The light method does not touch the eye at all.
How long does a pachymetry test take?
Seconds for each eye.
What is a normal corneal thickness?
There is no single normal figure. On average the centre of the cornea is a little over half a millimetre thick, and healthy eyes vary either side of that. Your eye doctor reads your figure alongside your eye pressure.
Can corneal thickness change?
It stays much the same in most adults and is largely inherited. Swelling makes the cornea thicker, and laser eye surgery makes it thinner.
Can I make my cornea thicker?
No. Nothing you eat, do or put in your eyes thickens a healthy cornea, and there is no need to: a thin cornea is not a disease. It is read alongside your eye pressure.
Does a thin cornea affect my vision?
Not on its own. A healthy cornea is clear whether it is thick or thin. A swollen cornea can blur vision, which is a different matter for your eye doctor.
Why is pachymetry done in glaucoma?
Because the thickness of the cornea shifts an eye pressure reading, so the two numbers are read together rather than one on its own.
Is pachymetry the same as tonometry?
No. Tonometry measures the pressure inside the eye; pachymetry measures the cornea that pressure is read through. They are often done at the same visit.
What else is pachymetry used for?
Checking a cornea that may be swollen, since swelling makes it thicker, and measuring it before laser eye surgery, which makes it thinner.
Can I drive after pachymetry?
Yes. It does not blur your vision or widen the pupil. If dilating drops were also used, wait until your vision is clear.
How much is a pachymetry test?
It is done during an eye specialist consultation, as required. A first consultation with an eye specialist is $174.40 nett at Camden and Parkway East, and $130.80 nett at our community clinics in Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong. Please enquire for the fee for the test itself.