To evaluate the efficacy of noncontact specular microscopy (NCSM) by comparing the measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) to the measurement with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound pachymetry (USP).

One examiner measured the CCT of 50 eyes of 50 healthy young subjects using NCSM, AS-OCT, and USP. The mean values and correlations were analyzed.

The mean CCT value was 546.92 ± 32.06 µm with NCSM, 535.24 ± 30.54 µm with AS-OCT, and 546.38 ± 30.70 µm with USP. The CCT measurements with NCSM and USP were significantly thicker than with AS-OCT ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between the measurements obtained with NCSM and USP ( p = 0.505). The 3 instruments were significantly correlated (r > 0.900 in all groups, p < 0.001 in all groups).

CCT measurements of healthy eyes using NCSM are more correlated with USP than AS-OCT. The CCT measurement using NCSM is a better alternative for USP than AS-OCT.