Automated Applanation Tonometry – Updated

Description

This is a prospective study. Patients presenting for their scheduled eye appointments will be recruited by verbal communication. Following informed consent, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements will be made by the following methods:

Standard Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT): this is the standard method for IOP measurement in clinical practice. The eye is given topical fluorescein/anesthetic, the GAT prism contacts the eye while the observer looks through the slit lamp machine ocular using blue light illumination to visual the applanation mires. The GAT dial is adjusted until mire alignment is achieved and the IOP measurement is read off the GAT dial.

Pneumotonometer: This is what is done in routine eye care. You will receive a topical anesthetic (numbing agent). A probe will touch the front of the eye while the machine measures the eye pressure.

Fixed force GAT: From the patient perspective, this method will feel identical to the standard GAT. The eye is given topical fluorescein/anesthetic. The GAT dial is set at 1.8 or 2.0, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (C-MOS) camera is connected to one of the oculars of the slit lamp machine and under blue light illumination, the GAT prism contacts the eye while the CMOS camera makes a video of the mire appearance through the ocular. The diameters of the recorded mire images are measured and the IOP is calculated based on the mire diameter. A similar method using an iPod touch camera has been previously published by this PI.

Upright applanating prototype: With this prototype, an applanating prism (custom manufactured with medical grade acrylic in an ISO-13485 certified facility) is attached to a fixed-force spring that creates a force equivalent to 1.8 or 2.0 on the GAT dial. Blue LED lights on the prototype are used to create the blue illumination similar to the blue light used in clinical practice on the slit lamp or Perkins tonometer. A C-MOS camera is aligned with the GAT prism to image the applanation mires. The eye is given topical fluorescein/anesthetic. Like fixed-force GAT, the GAT prism contacts the eye while the CMOS camera makes a video of the mire appearance. The diameters of the recorded mire images are measured and the IOP is calculated based on the mire diameter.

The order of the above 4 measurements will be randomized.