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Variability in the measurement of corneal temperature using a noncontact infrared thermometer
Purpose:
To assess the variability of corneal temperature and the reproducibility of its measurement by means of a noncontact infrared thermometer in healthy subjects.
Methods:
The THI-500 noncontact infrared thermometer (Tasco Japan, Osaka, Japan) was used for the measurement of corneal temperature. The reproducibility of corneal temperature measurements was assessed for 5 consecutive temperature readings obtained within 45 min or within 5 days. In addition, the interocular difference in corneal temperature and the diurnal temperature changes of the cornea were assessed. For each experiment, 10 healthy subjects were recruited.
Results:
The reliability of 5 consecutive corneal temperature measurements obtained within 45 min and within 5 days was 97.92 and 85.35%, respectively. Interocular differences in corneal temperature were not statistically significant (p = 0.70). Average corneal temperature varied significantly during the day (p < 0.0001), with lower corneal temperature readings during the morning hours compared to those obtained during the afternoon.
Conclusion:
The assessment of corneal temperature by means of noncontact infrared thermometry is highly reproducible. Corneal temperature varies throughout the day, and this variation is independent of variations in environmental temperature.