Accuracy of clinic estimates of intraocular pressure in Chinese eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the validity of clinical estimates of intraocular pressure (IOP) in Chinese people. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based in vivo study. Participants: Twenty-three ethnic Chinese adults (aged 35-82 years) undergoing routine phacoemulsification surgery were examined. Testing: 'True' IOP was measured with a solid-state hemodynamic monitor through a cannula in the anterior chamber. IOP was set successively to 10, 20, and 30 mmHg in each subject, using a reservoir of balanced salt solution. Intraocular pressure was simultaneously estimated by use of a hand-held applanation tonometer (Perkin's) and a Tono-Pen. The association between ocular biometric variables and measurement error was examined. Main Outcome Measures: The median of three readings at each IOP level was taken as the IOP estimate of each instrument. Measurement error was calculated as the mean difference (tonometer minus direct measurement). Results: The error for the hand-held applanation tonometer was -1.6, -4.3 and -5.7 at 10, 20, and 30 mmHg, respectively. For the Tono-Pen the measurement error was +0.4, -2.0, and -4.1 at 10, 20, and 30 mmHg, respectively. We could identify no association between measurement error and corneal thickness or curvature, anterior chamber depth, or axial length. Conclusions: The applanation tonometer and Tono-Pen underestimate the true IOP in Chinese eyes. Error increases as true IOP increases. These tonometers do not give an accurate estimate of IOP in East Asians. (C) 2000 American Academy of Ophthalmology.