According to the latest research, iCare’s rebound tonometry offers excellent reliability and demonstrates the capability to portray IOP changes more robustly than Goldmann applanation tonometry. Combined with an enhanced user experience for eye care professionals and patients alike, this presents a noteworthy challenge to the gold standard of IOP measurement.
Several recent studies assessing the reliability of iCare’s rebound tonometry deliver promising results for the future of glaucoma care. The iCare IC100 and IC200 tonometers compare well against the current clinical standard for measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and offer eye care professionals unique benefits also under COVID-19 circumstances.
Read more about how iCare’s rebound technology works.
Change of IOP over time is more significant than absolute IOP in long-term glaucoma management
Research by Realini et al.¹ highlights the importance of reliable IOP measurements with low variability and good reproducibility in glaucoma care. The article concludes that relative IOP – change over time – is paramount in long-term glaucoma management, surpassing the importance of absolute accuracy of single IOP measurements themselves.
The authors note that there is a considerable need for a measurement method that poses no infection risk and presents fewer sources of error and variability than GAT.
iCare’s rebound tonometry demonstrates the capability to characterize IOP changes more robustly than Goldmann applanation tonometry
Realini et. al.’s clinical publication consists of three prospective studies, each testing the reproducibility of IOP measurements with the iCare IC100 rebound tonometer from a different perspective: intra-operator, inter-operator, and inter-device reliability. On all three parameters, the iCare IC100 demonstrated good reproducibility and significantly lower test-retest variability than the equivalent Goldmann tonometers.
These results suggest that compared to GAT, rebound tonometry can characterize IOP changes more soundly and reliably. This, in turn, improves the consistency of IOP control and assists the eye care practitioner to assess the effectiveness of glaucoma therapy more accurately.
Several studies compare iCare IC100 and IC200 to GAT with promising results
A recent clinical study by Gómez-Gómez et al.² comparing the iCare IC100 to GAT also declares the IC100 a reliable tool for IOP measurement and glaucoma management. According to this study of 54 patients, rebound tonometry offers excellent reliability for obtaining IOP results in healthy patients and patients undergoing myopic LASIK.
The flagship model of the iCare tonometers, the IC200, was launched in 2018. Research by Nakakura et al.³ and Badakere et al.4 in 2021 compares the iCare IC200 tonometer to GAT with similar results: the IC200 is close to GAT in accuracy and both measurement methods provide sufficiently high reproducibility. These two studies included altogether 301 participants.
Learn more about the features of the different iCare tonometer models: IC100, IC200 and HOME2.
Facilitating an innovative approach to glaucoma management
Sundararajan et al.⁵ agree that iCare’s rebound tonometry has proven to be an excellent alternative to GAT. Their study explores the use of the iCare IC200 in drive-through IOP clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and concludes that the device serves this purpose as desired.
The authors also note that this innovative approach to glaucoma management may continue to serve patients’ needs well beyond the current global health crisis.
Rebound tonometry offers added benefits beyond GAT
In summary of all the research mentioned above, iCare’s rebound tonometry provides sufficient accuracy regarding absolute IOP and potentially superior reliability when monitoring IOP changes over time.
In addition to this, iCare rebound tonometers offer a list of added benefits: superior ease of use, hygienic disposable probes, measuring in both supine and sitting positions and greater patient comfort as there is no need for anesthetics or applanation.
Contact your local iCare distributor for more information, technical support, and direct inquiries.
¹ Realini T., McMillan B., Gross R. L., Devience E., Balasubramani G.K. Assessing the Reliability of Intraocular Pressure Measurements Using Rebound Tonometry. Journal of Glaucoma. May 27, 2021 – Volume Online First – Issue – doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001892
² Gómez-Gómez A., Talens-Estarelles C., Alcocer-Yuste P., Nieto J.C. Reliability of iCare ic100 Rebound Tonometry and agreement with Goldmann Applanation Tonometry in Healthy and Post-myopic LASIK Patients. Journal of Glaucoma. May 12, 2021 – Volume Online First – Issue -doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001878
³ Nakakura S., Asaoka R., Terao E., Nagata Y., Fukuma Y., Oogi S., Shiraishi M., Kiuchi Y. Evaluation of rebound tonometer iCare IC200 as compared with IcarePRO and Goldmann applanation tonometer in patients with glaucoma. Eye and Vis 8, 25 (2021). doi: 10.1186/s40662-021-00249-z
4 Badakere S.V., Chary R., Choudhari N.S., Rao H.L., Garudadri C., Senthil S. Agreement of Intraocular Pressure Measurement of Icare ic200 with Goldmann Applanation Tonometer in Adult Eyes with Normal Cornea. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2021 Jan-Feb;4(1):89-94. Epub 2020 Aug 13. Erratum in: Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2021 Mar-Apr;4(2):234. PMID: 32801019. doi: 10.1016/j.ogla.2020.08.004
⁵ Sundararajan M., Nguyen A.H., Lopez S.E., Moussa K., Redd T.K., Seitzman G.D. Adapting to Coronavirus Disease 2019 With Point-of-Care Outdoor Intraocular Pressure Monitoring. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(3):361–362. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.6073
