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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Mar 30.
Published in final edited form as: J Neurosci Methods. 2010 Jan 11;187(2):156–166. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.01.006

Table 2.

Comparison of several measuring devices to the laser micrometer.

Device Type Contact? Precision Cost (USD) Training Live? Measurement Time Eye Size Maintenance; Operating cost Quirks
Laser Micrometer No 0.15 μ 8,400. minimal No seconds 0.5-25 mm None
Micrometer Calipers Yes 1-100 μ 200. moderate No minutes 0.5-25 mm None
PCI/OCT No1 3-20 μ 40,000 to 150,000. heavy Yes minutes P2 High Head-post.
Anesthesia.
Calibration Required.
Only optical axis measured.
Optical clarity needed.
MRI/CT No1 252μ >500,000. heavy Yes minutes 3-25 mm High Anesthesia
Image Analysis Depends3 4-100μ 1,000. to 2,000.4 moderate No minutes 1-25 mm Low Calibration required
1

Eye drops or hydrogels are placed in contact with the eye to prevent dehydration during anesthesia and the procedure.

2

Purpose built for the species under study.

3

Contact of the eye with a holder is usually required.

4

Camera equipment and image analysis software costs. Assumes that microscopes, histological, and other equipment are already available.