Corneal topography in Medellín: price and what it is for
A map of the shape of your cornea, contact free and in a few minutes
Corneal topography, also called ocular topography, measures the curvature of the cornea point by point. It is ordered before refractive surgery, to detect or monitor keratoconus, to fit rigid or scleral contact lenses and before cataract surgery when there is astigmatism. MDE Care is not a clinic: we arrange your test, and your consultation if you need one, with specialists in Medellín.
Map of the cornea
curvature, elevation and thickness
Which cornea test is right for you?
Tell us why it was ordered and whether you wear contact lenses. We will tell you whether topography is usually enough or a Pentacam is the better choice, how to prepare and how much it costs.
1What do you need the test for?
2Do you wear contact lenses?
3How old are you?
4Does anyone in your family have keratoconus?
Pre-surgical assessment with Pentacam
Before laser or ICL surgery, the specialist needs to see both surfaces of the cornea and its thickness. A Pentacam provides that, and the pre-surgical assessment already includes it along with pachymetry, biometry and an endothelial cell count.
The test that usually applies
- Pentacam or topography with pachymetry
- Biometry and endothelial cell count
- All within the pre-surgical assessment
How to prepare
- Without contact lenses, no special preparation is needed.
- No dilation: you can go on your own and carry on with your day.
- The clinic will confirm how to prepare for the rest of the assessment.
Pre-surgical assessment, guide price
COP 400,000
Paid separately, those tests would add up to COP 410,000 to COP 770,000.
* Guide prices, confirmed when you book. This is guidance, not a diagnosis: the exact test is decided by whoever orders it.
How much does a corneal topography cost in Medellín?
Choose whether you have an order for a single test or need it as part of the assessment before surgery. We show you the estimated total in Colombian pesos or US dollars.
First, the medical order or the assessment
Topography is ordered by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. If you already have the order, we book the test. If you are having surgery, it is usually part of the pre-surgical assessment and you do not pay for it separately.
What is included
- Topography of both eyes
- Printed or digital curvature map
What affects the price
- The type of device: topography or Pentacam
- Whether pachymetry is ordered separately
- Whether you add a consultation to read the result
- The clinic where it is done
1. How do you need it?
2. Which test were you asked for?
3. Who will read the result?
These tests are quoted for both eyes: even if only one worries you, both are measured so they can be compared.
Estimated total
COP 100,000to COP 200,000
Corneal topography. Both eyes.
If you are having surgery
COP 400,000
The pre-surgical assessment already includes this test and three more.
Breakdown
- Corneal topography, both eyesCOP 100,000 to COP 200,000
* Guide prices for both eyes, confirmed when you book. US dollar conversion is approximate. This is guidance, not a diagnosis.
What corneal topography is and what it is for
The cornea is the clear window at the front of the eye and does most of the focusing. If its shape is uneven, you see blurry or distorted images, even when the rest of the eye is healthy.
Corneal topography projects rings of light onto the cornea, photographs them and calculates its curvature at thousands of points. The result is a color map showing where the cornea is steeper and where it is flatter.
It does not hurt, nothing touches the eye and no dilation is needed. It is interpreted by the ophthalmologist or optometrist who ordered it, together with the rest of your eye exam.
Before refractive surgery
It confirms whether the cornea is suitable for LASIK, PRK or SMILE and helps decide whether an ICL lens is a better option.
Detecting or monitoring keratoconus
It picks up a cornea that is thinning and bulging into a cone shape, and lets the specialist compare whether it is progressing. More on keratoconus.
Fitting specialty contact lenses
Rigid and scleral lenses are designed around the real shape of your cornea. This is done by the optometry team.
Before cataract surgery
It measures corneal astigmatism to choose the intraocular lens. More on cataract surgery.
Topography, Pentacam and pachymetry: how they differ
All three study the cornea, but each one measures something different. That is why an order sometimes asks for one and sometimes for a combination.
Corneal topography
It uses rings of light, known as a Placido disc, to measure the curvature of the front surface of the cornea.
- Contact lens fitting
- Astigmatism before cataract surgery
- Monitoring the shape of the cornea
COP 100,000 to COP 200,000 both eyes
Pentacam or corneal tomography
A camera that rotates around the eye, called a Scheimpflug camera, reconstructs the front and back surfaces of the cornea and measures its thickness across the whole map.
- Assessment for refractive surgery
- Suspected keratoconus and check-ups
- Pachymetry already included
COP 120,000 to COP 200,000 both eyes
Pachymetry
It measures how many microns thick the cornea is. It can be done with light or with ultrasound; ultrasound requires an anesthetic eye drop.
- Knowing whether there is enough cornea for surgery
- Interpreting eye pressure in glaucoma
- Keratoconus check-ups
COP 80,000 to COP 150,000 both eyes, if done on its own
| Comparison | Topography | Pentacam | Pachymetry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front surface of the cornea | Yes | Yes | No |
| Back surface | No | Yes | No |
| Thickness | No | Yes, across the whole map | Yes |
| Touches the eye | No | No | Only the ultrasound type |
| Duration | About 10 minutes | About 10 minutes | Under 10 minutes |
Guide prices for both eyes, confirmed when you book.
How corneal topography is done
It is quick and comfortable. The most important thing is to arrive with your cornea in its natural shape, free from the pressure of contact lenses.
You sit in front of the device
You rest your chin and forehead so your head stays still.
You look at a point of light
With your eyes wide open, without blinking for a few seconds.
The device takes the images
Without touching the eye. It is repeated on the other eye and sometimes taken twice to confirm.
You receive the map
You carry on with your day: no dilation, so you can drive and work.
If you wear contact lenses, stop wearing them beforehand
Contact lenses slightly change the shape of the cornea while you wear them. If you do not stop in time, the map may come out altered and the test would need to be repeated.
Soft lenses
3 days
without wearing them before the test
Rigid lenses
8 days
without wearing them before the test
- Wear glasses during those days. If you wear scleral lenses, confirm the time with the clinic when you book.
- There is no dilation: you can go without a companion.
- Bring your previous topographies if you have them; they are useful for comparison.
- Bring the medical order with the exact test you were asked for.
What the topography map shows
A simple guide to understand what you see. The final reading is always done by the specialist, with your complete eye exam.
The colors
Warm tones mark where the cornea curves more and cool tones where it is flatter. A regular cornea shows orderly colors that look similar in both eyes.
The pattern
Regular astigmatism usually shows a symmetrical shape, like an hourglass. An irregular pattern or a very steep area toward the bottom leads the specialist to look for keratoconus.
The numbers
They show the curvature in diopters, the corneal astigmatism and, on the Pentacam, the thickness in microns. They are compared with your own previous results over time.
A map on its own does not give a diagnosis. If you receive it without a consultation, take it to whoever ordered it or write to us and we will help you book the reading.
When corneal topography is repeated
Topography is often not a one-time test. Its value lies in comparing one map with the next.
Keratoconus check-ups
Repeating the scan and comparing it with previous ones shows whether the cornea is progressing. That decides whether it needs to be halted with crosslinking. It is best done on the same type of device so the comparison is fair.
After crosslinking
Topographies are repeated to confirm that the cornea has stabilized. Later check-ups can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
When changing specialty lenses
If the cornea changes, a rigid or scleral lens may stop fitting well. A new map helps redesign it.
How often
There is no single schedule. The specialist decides based on your age, the diagnosis and what previous maps show.
Corneal topography at a glance
| Corneal topography | COP 100,000 to COP 200,000 both eyes |
|---|---|
| Pentacam | COP 120,000 to COP 200,000 both eyes, pachymetry included |
| Pachymetry only | COP 80,000 to COP 150,000 both eyes |
| Pre-surgical assessment | COP 400,000, already includes topography, pachymetry, biometry and endothelial cell count |
| Duration | About 10 minutes, no dilation and nothing touches the eye |
| Preparation | Stop soft lenses 3 days and rigid lenses 8 days before |
Guide prices, confirmed when you book.
Where the result can lead you
Why arrange your topography with MDE Care
We are not a clinic: we are your coordination team. We connect you with diagnostic centers and specialists in Medellín.
The right test
We review your order so you get exactly what your doctor asked for, without paying for extra tests.
Clear price before you go
You know how much the test costs and whether it is better value within the pre-surgical assessment.
From the test to the next step
If the map leads to a consultation, surgery or specialty lenses, we arrange that too.
Organizations that support our work
How we arrange your corneal topography
A guided process from your first message to the result.
Tell us about your case
Send us your order or the reason for the test on WhatsApp.
We book it
We give you a date and remind you when to stop wearing your contact lenses.
The test
About 10 minutes, no dilation and nothing touches the eye.
The reading
With whoever ordered it or with the specialist we arrange.
Next step
Surgery, specialty lenses or check-ups, if needed.
Common questions about corneal topography
What is corneal topography used for?
How much does a corneal topography cost in Medellín?
What is the difference between corneal topography and a Pentacam?
What is pachymetry and why is it ordered with topography?
Does corneal topography hurt or require dilation?
How many days before should I stop wearing contact lenses?
Does corneal topography detect keratoconus?
Do I need a medical order to get a topography?
Already have the order for the test?
Send us a photo and we will tell you the price and the earliest available date in Medellín.
Other ophthalmology services
Ready to book your corneal topography?
Write to us with your order or the reason for the test. We arrange the test and, if you need them, the consultation and the next step in Medellín, with a clear price from the first message.