Comparison of the ICare rebound tonometer with the Goldmann applanation tonometer by experienced and inexperienced tonometrists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the agreement between ICare rebound tonometer and Goldmann applanation tonometer in the hands of experienced and inexperienced tonometrists.


METHODS
Two tonometrists, experienced with both Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and ICare Tonometry (ICT) measured intraocular pressure (IOP), in a masked fashion, in 100 patients. In another series of 58 patients, ICT was performed by an inexperienced tonometrist and GAT by an experienced tonometrist.


RESULTS
In approximately 80% of patients, the difference in IOP between GAT and ICT was <or=2 mmHg in group 1 and <or=3 mmHg in group 2. The 95% limits of agreement were -4.0-4.4 mmHg in group 1 and -6.0-5.0 mmHg in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
ICT compares reasonably with GAT, in both experienced and inexperienced hands. Its ease of use, portability, and sterility make it an attractive tonometer. Its degree of accuracy in inexperienced hands would make it a useful instrument for health care workers with limited ophthalmic experience.
Abraham
L M
LM
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. lekhaabraham@yahoo.com
Epasinghe
N C R
NC
Selva
D
D
Casson
R
R
D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000295:instrumentation*