Comparison of ICare rebound tonometer with noncontact tonometer in healthy children.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of using a noncontact tonometer (NCT) versus a rebound tonometer (ICare) when measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy children.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

METHODS

A total of 180 (96 males and 84 females) healthy children, aged 6 months to 15 years, were recruited. IOPs were measured using both the NCT and ICare devices in the absence of anesthesia. A successful outcome was defined as the measurement of the IOP in both eyes. The McNemar test for comparing correlated proportions was used to analyze the ICare and NCT data.

RESULTS

Although the IOP was successfully measured in 160 children (88.9%) when using ICare, we were only able to successfully measure 130 children (72.2%) when using NCT. Below the age of 6 years, measurement of the IOP using ICare was better tolerated as compared with the NCT (McNemar test; P<0.001). The mean differences (95% limits of agreement) for the IOP readings between ICare and NCT in right and left eyes were 0.90±6.40 and 1.18±6.19 mm Hg, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

IOP measurements performed using ICare are better tolerated in the pediatric population, as compared with measurements using NCT, especially in children below the age of 6 years.