Comparison of intraocular pressure measurements with the portable PT100 noncontact tonometer and goldmann applanation tonometry

Abstract

Purpose:

Noncontact tonometers are useful when regulations preclude use of contact tonometers by medical students and other nonophthalmologists. Our study compared the measurements by the portable, noncontact tonometer (PT100) with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT).

Methods:

This was a prospective study of 98 eyes from 98 patients. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by GAT and the PT100 (Reichert, Buffalo, NY).

Results:

Mean IOP measurements showed no significant differences in measurements performed by the two tonometers (P = 0.64). Measurements by the two tonometers were in agreement by ≤3 mmHg in 92.8% of eyes. Linear regression analysis of PT100 vs GAT measurements revealed a slope of 0.98 with r² = 0.58. Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean difference of measurements by GAT and PT100 of −0.3 mmHg with two standard deviation = 7.1 mmHg.

Conclusion:

The portable noncontact PT100 tonometer provides IOP measurements comparable to GAT within the normal range of IOP.

Keywords:

• applanation tonometer
• intraocular pressure
• noncontact tonometry

Disclosure

Supported in part by the Friends of The Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation and the Hyde Foundation. Presented in part at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November, 2008. The authors have no financial interest in this work.