Comparison of ICare rebound tonometer with noncontact tonometer in healthy children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Accurate intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring pediatric eye conditions.
• Noncontact tonometers (NCT) and rebound tonometers (ICare) are commonly used for IOP assessment.
• Limited data exists comparing the efficacy and tolerance of these devices in healthy children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness and patient tolerance of the ICare rebound tonometer versus the noncontact tonometer (NCT) for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy children.
• To determine which tonometer provides a higher success rate for IOP measurement in pediatric patients.
• To assess the device preference in different age groups within the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 180 healthy children aged 6 months to 15 years.
• Intraocular pressure was measured using both ICare and NCT devices without anesthesia.
• The McNemar test was employed to compare the success rates and tolerance between the two devices.

Main Results:

• The ICare tonometer achieved a successful IOP measurement in 88.9% of children, compared to 72.2% with the NCT.
• ICare demonstrated significantly better tolerance, especially in children younger than 6 years (P<0.001).
• Mean IOP differences (95% limits of agreement) were 0.90±6.40 mm Hg (right eye) and 1.18±6.19 mm Hg (left eye) between devices.

Conclusions:

• The ICare rebound tonometer is more effective and better tolerated for IOP measurement in the pediatric population than the NCT.
• These findings are particularly relevant for children under the age of 6, where ICare shows a clear advantage.
• The study supports the use of ICare for routine IOP assessment in children, enhancing diagnostic capabilities and patient comfort.