Corneal topography with the Pentacam is a private, non-contact scan that maps the curvature, shape and thickness of your cornea in three dimensions. A standalone scan starts from £150 in the UK and is often included in the work-up for laser eye surgery or lens implants. The scan takes under five minutes, nothing touches your eye, and it is the key test for diagnosing and monitoring keratoconus and for planning precise corneal and refractive surgery.
What is corneal topography (Pentacam)?
Corneal topography is a way of measuring the exact shape of the cornea — the clear dome at the front of the eye that does most of its focusing. The Pentacam uses a rotating camera to capture thousands of measurement points, building a detailed three-dimensional map of the front surface, back surface and thickness of the cornea (a technique called Scheimpflug tomography).
Because it images the back surface and full thickness — not just the front — it can pick up very early corneal changes that a simple front-surface scan would miss. That makes it the gold-standard test for detecting keratoconus and for confirming that a cornea is safe and suitable before laser vision correction.
When a corneal topography scan is used
Corneal topography is central to keratoconus care and to safe refractive surgery planning. Where a scan shows early or progressing keratoconus, treatment such as corneal cross-linking can halt it. For a complementary corneal scan used in keratoconus work-up, see the Galilei G6 corneal scan, and for retinal imaging see the Heidelberg OCT scan.
Considering laser surgery, or told you may have keratoconus? A Pentacam scan gives your consultant the detailed corneal map they need.
Book a corneal scanWhat happens on the day
- You rest your chin on a support and look at a target light — the scanner does the rest.
- The rotating camera sweeps across the eye in a couple of seconds, capturing the full 3D map. Nothing touches your eye.
- No dilating drops are needed, so your vision is unaffected afterwards.
- Both eyes are scanned, and the whole appointment takes just a few minutes.
Your results
Immediately after
No recovery needed. You can drive and return to normal activities straight away.
Same day
Your consultant interprets the corneal maps and explains what they mean for your eyes and any planned surgery.
Next steps
If keratoconus is found, options such as cross-linking are discussed; if you're suitable for laser or lens surgery, planning proceeds.
Corneal topography scan cost
- Standalone Pentacam scan: from £150, including consultant interpretation of both eyes.
- Within a surgery work-up: corneal topography is frequently included in the assessment fee for laser or lens surgery — ask when you book.
- Insurance: where the scan is part of investigating a covered condition such as keratoconus, it is usually claimable.
Corneal topography is a diagnostic scan rather than a treatment, so pricing reflects imaging and consultant time. See the full laser eye surgery cost guide to understand how the scan fits into surgery planning.