[Reproducibility of dynamic contour tonometry. Comparison with TonoPenXL and Goldmann applanation tonometry - a clinical study on 323 normal eyes].
BACKGROUND
The PASCAL Dynamic Contour Tonometer (DCT) is a new diagnostic approach for the digital measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with glaucoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of DCT in normal eyes and to compare DCT with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and TonoPenXL.


METHODS
A prospective cross-sectional study on 323 normal, consecutive eyes was performed. Eyes with an IOP of more than 23 mmHg (GAT) were excluded. Central corneal power (Zeiss Ophthalmometer) and central corneal thickness (ultrasound pachymetry: Tomey AL-1000) were taken. The IOP readings were obtained as follows: 3 x DCT [quality of measurement, IOP and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) were taken], 1 x TonoPenXL, GAT, finally: once again DCT to evaluate the tonography effect.


RESULTS
The quality of 3 following IOP (DCT) readings was good (quality Q1 = 43.4 %, Q2 = 32.5 %, Q3 = 22.7 %). The reproducibility of the IOP (DCT) measurements was excellent (first measurement IOP (DCT) = 18.1 +/- 3.4 mmHg, second measurement IOP (DCT) = 18.1 +/- 3.4 mmHg, third measurement IOP (DCT) = 17.8 +/- 3.4 mmHg, Cronbach's alpha = 0.976). First and second IOP (DCT) values showed a strong correlation (r = 0.93). A significant tonography effect was observed between first and third IOP (DCT) measurements (0.4 mmHg; p = 0.004). Mean OPA (DCT) was 3.0 mmHg during the first three measurements (Cronbach's alpha = 0.964). IOP (DCT) and OPA (DCT) reproducibility showed no laterality. IOP (DCT) (17.7 +/- 3.4 mmHg) was significantly higher than IOP (TonoPenXL) (16.0 +/- 3.2 mmHg, n = 275; p < 0.001) and higher than IOP (GAT) (14.5 +/- 3.1 mmHg, n = 275; p < 0.001). The effect of tonography between the third and last IOP (DCT) measurement was zero (p = 0.6). IOP (DCT) and IOP (GAT) values were only weak correlated with central corneal thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
IOP and OPA values measured with the DCT are extraordinary reproducible in normal eyes. Frequently, DCT detects higher IOP values than those obtained with TonoPenXL and GAT. A reproducible measurement of IOP and OPA may open new diagnostic fields, e. g., in glaucoma detection or ocular vascular diseases.
Viestenz
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Augenklinik der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg. Dr.Arne.Viestenz@t-online.de
Langenbucher
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Viestenz
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D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity