A comparison of Icare PRO and Tono-Pen XL tonometers in anesthetized children

Elliot C McKee1, Amanda L Ely1, Jared E Duncan1

  • 1Duke Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Insights

The Icare PRO measured lower intraocular pressure (IOP) than the Tono-Pen in anesthetized children. This difference was more pronounced with corneal edema, suggesting Icare PRO as a valuable tool for pediatric glaucoma evaluation.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Tonometry is crucial for evaluating pediatric glaucoma but is limited by device capabilities for supine measurements.
  • The Icare PRO offers intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement in both sitting and supine positions.
  • Current tonometry methods for anesthetized children often require supine recording capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the Icare PRO and Tono-Pen for IOP measurement in supine children undergoing examination under anesthesia.
  • To evaluate the devices' performance in eyes with normal findings, glaucoma, and corneal pathology.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involved 100 eyes of 50 children undergoing examination under anesthesia.
  • Intraocular pressure was measured using both Icare PRO and Tono-Pen immediately after anesthesia induction.
  • The order of instrument use was randomized to minimize bias.

Main Results:

  • The Tono-Pen measured a mean IOP 2.2 mm Hg higher than the Icare PRO (P < 0.001).
  • Eyes with corneal edema showed significantly higher IOP measurements with the Tono-Pen compared to the Icare PRO (mean difference of 8.4 mm Hg).
  • No correlation was found between central corneal thickness and IOP difference when corneal edema was absent.

Conclusions:

  • The Tono-Pen consistently yielded higher IOP readings than the Icare PRO in supine, anesthetized children.
  • The discrepancy in IOP measurements was amplified in the presence of corneal edema.
  • The Icare PRO shows potential as a valuable tool for pediatric tonometry, with a recommendation for confirmatory testing in cases of corneal edema.
Abstract