From the Guidelines
The IC200 tonometer does not touch the eye, as it is a non-contact tonometer that uses a gentle puff of air to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) without physical contact with the ocular surface. This is based on the general understanding of non-contact tonometry, although the specific details of the IC200 tonometer are not mentioned in the provided evidence 1. The evidence discusses various tonometry techniques, including applanation, rebound, and contour-matching Pascal techniques, but does not specifically mention the IC200 tonometer 1. However, the principle of non-contact tonometry is clear, and it is reasonable to assume that the IC200 tonometer operates on a similar principle, using a puff of air to measure IOP without touching the eye. Some key points about tonometry techniques include:
- Applanation techniques require topical anesthesia and measure IOP by flattening the cornea 1
- Rebound tonometry does not require topical anesthesia and measures IOP by analyzing the deceleration of a probe as it contacts the cornea 1
- Contour-matching Pascal techniques use a piezoresistive sensor to measure IOP and require topical anesthesia 1 The IC200 tonometer, as a non-contact tonometer, offers several benefits, including:
- Elimination of the need for topical anesthetics
- Reduced risk of corneal abrasions or infections
- Quick and comfortable IOP measurements
- Particular benefit for patients who are apprehensive about having their eyes touched during examination.
From the Research
Tonometer Characteristics
- The IC200 tonometer is a rebound tonometer that measures intraocular pressure (IOP) without the need for topical anesthesia 2, 3, 4, 5.
- It is designed to be used in both supine and upright patients 2.
Tonometer Touch
- The IC200 tonometer does touch the eye, as it is a rebound tonometer that uses a small probe to make contact with the cornea to measure IOP 3, 4, 5.
- However, the touch is gentle and does not require topical anesthesia, making it a more comfortable option for patients compared to other tonometers like Goldmann applanation tonometry 3.
Comparison with Other Tonometers
- The IC200 tonometer has been compared to other tonometers, such as the Tono-Pen and Goldmann applanation tonometry, and has shown good correlation and agreement with these devices 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The IC200 tonometer has also been shown to be easy to use and provides rapid and consistent readings with minimal training 3.