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Are corneal thickness and stromal thickness the same?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

What is corneal stromal thickness? I got LASIK done. I got pentacam and my cornea thickness is 465 microns. Is it same as corneal stromal thickness? Please explain me.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Corneal thickness is not same as stromal thickness. The cornea has got five layers like epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's layer and endothelium. Stroma is the thickest layer of the cornea.

    • Now, when we plan LASIK rule it should have least 500 micron of corneal thickness.
      • We try to make a flap and then laser ablated corneal stroma during LASIK. Now, another rule is ablating the stroma. But, we must have 250 microns of residual stroma left after ablation if we can preserve 300 micron that is even better.
        • We cannot measure your stromal thickness, but pentacam measure corneal thickness and after LASIK it will decrease and it will be less than 500 micron as in your case.

        For further information consult an eye care ophthalmologist online.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

My corneal thickness today is 465 and 468 on both eyes with thinnest location at 455 and 453. Can you guess my stromal thickness? Is there a test to measure the high thickness?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • There is no direct method to measure stromal bed.
  • Yes, we can guess. Do you have medical records of your LASIK procedure?
  • If you can tell me the thickness of your corneal flap, then I can give you a rough estimation of your stromal bed.
  • Usually flap is about 90 micron or 130 micron. Do you know what was the thickness of your flap?

Revert back with the answers to the above questions to an eye care ophthalmologist online.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

No, there is no clinical record as it was done before 13 years back. So, does the stromal bed thickness can tell us how strong cornea is or total thickness of the cornea?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • Stromal thickness gives us an idea of corneal thickness.
  • More stromal thickness means more strength. But, we already know corneal thickness 465 microns.

For further information consult an eye care ophthalmologist online.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor.

Is the cornea at 465 thick enough to know whether it is strong or not? Or only stromal thickness can tell us? Please explain me.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • Corneal strength is mainly determined by the stromal bed.
  • I think, your cornea is sufficiently thick and you need not to worry.

For further information consult an eye care ophthalmologist online.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

According to my corneal thickness can you estimate the stromal thickness?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • Your stromal thickness will range between 335 to 375 microns depending on flap thickness.
  • 335 microns has a flap thickness of 130 microns and 375 microns has a flap thickness of 90 microns.

For further information consult an eye care ophthalmologist online.

Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana

Published At June 15, 2016
Reviewed AtApril 28, 2025

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