Accuracy of clinical estimates of intraocular pressure in Chinese eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the validity of clinical estimates of intraocular pressure (IOP) in Chinese people.


METHODS
Prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based in vivo study.


METHODS
Twenty-three ethnic Chinese adults (aged 35-82 years) undergoing routine phacoemulsification surgery were examined.


METHODS
"True" IOP was measured with a solid-state hemodynamic monitor through a cannula in the anterior chamber. IOP was set successively to 10, 20, and 30 mmHg in each subject, using a reservoir of balanced salt solution. Intraocular pressure was simultaneously estimated by use of a hand-held applanation tonometer (Perkin's) and a Tono-Pen. The association between ocular biometric variables and measurement error was examined.


METHODS
The median of three readings at each IOP level was taken as the IOP estimate of each instrument. Measurement error was calculated as the mean difference (tonometer minus direct measurement).


RESULTS
The error for the hand-held applanation tonometer was -1.6, -4.3 and -5.7 at 10, 20, and 30 mmHg, respectively. For the Tono-Pen the measurement error was +0.4, -2.0, and -4.1 at 10, 20, and 30 mmHg, respectively. We could identify no association between measurement error and corneal thickness or curvature, anterior chamber depth, or axial length.


CONCLUSIONS
The applanation tonometer and Tono-Pen underestimate the true IOP in Chinese eyes. Error increases as true IOP increases. These tonometers do not give an accurate estimate of IOP in East Asians.
Foster
P J
PJ
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore. Institute of Ophthalmology, University College, London, England UK.
Wong
J S
JS
Wong
E
E
Chen
F G
FG
Machin
D
D
Chew
P T
PT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000592:standards*