[Usability of self-tonometry under ambulatory conditions to obtain daily profiles of intraocular pressure at home].
BACKGROUND
Diurnal profiles of intraocular pressure at opening times in the doctor's office do not deliver enough information, especially nightly and early morning measurements are lacking. Self-tonometry using the automatic self-tonometer "Ocuton S" might be suitable to achieve valid 24-hour IOP profiles without the need to stay in a hospital.


METHODS
96 people were taught to use the automatic self-tonometer once. Those who had learnt self-tonometry after this training underwent a diurnal IOP profile for 24 hours in the hospital using Goldmann tonometry and self-tonometry every 4 hours at the same times of day. One to three days later, they created a third IOP profile at home using self-tonometry at the same intervals as at the hospital. The IOP profiles were then tested for equality.


RESULTS
50 people out of 96 were able to perform self-tonometry after one training session. The IOP measurements of all three IOP profiles did not differ by more than 2 mmHg and thus may be considered comparable. There was no significant difference between daily curves, either.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-tonometry using the automatic self-tonometer "Ocuton S" appears to be suitable to record diurnal profiles of intraocular pressure at home.
Vogt
R
R
Augenärztliche Gemeinschaftspraxis Heider u. Vogt, Sangerhausen, mit Belegabteilung am Krankenhaus Am Rosarium Sangerhausen.
Duncker
G I
GI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods