Nesr Farooq, Assad Zaman Khan, Mohammad Azeem Ansari.
Comparative Evaluation of IOP with an Air-Puff Tonometer vs Goldmann Applanation Tonometer.
Ophthalmol Update Jan ;16(4):842-5.

Purpose: Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is an integral part of routine ocular examination and one of the important diagnostic criteria for glaucoma. Since the diagnosis of glaucoma involves lifestyle modifications and financial implications for the individual as well as the health system. So we felt a need to develop a standardized system before labeling the patient as glaucoma patient keeping in view the wide variety of gadgetry available to measure IOP. Patients and Methods: The study involved 200 eyes from 100 patients. All of whom were attending an ophthalmic outpatient clinic. Topcon air puff tonometer CT-800 and Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) were used in our study and the difference between the readings were recorded. Results: A comparison was made between IOP measured by GAT vs AP tonometer. The mean IOP measured by GAT was 13.26+4.114 while that measured by AP tonometer was 16.123+6.421 mean difference between the two methods was 2.864+2.436. We observed that the reading by AP tonometer were significantly higher as compared to those obtained by GAT in 76% of patients and this was most significant when IOP exceeded 21 mmHg there was no significant statistic difference of IOP with reference of patient age, sex, and laterality. Conclusion: We reached the conclusion that IOP measured with GAT and AP tonometer is statistically significant. GAT still remains the most suitable method of measuring IOP, regardless of patient`s age, sex and laterality of eye. Since measurements by AP tonometer was higher than GAP. It is more suitable for IOP screening in large communities.

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