Abstract |
Purpose
Various instruments and methods applied for the measurement of intraocular pressure
(IOP), mostly on the basis of the applied force-deformation region. The ocular regitity is a
parameter expressing the elastic properties of the eye and is defined mathematically as
the ratio of the change in intraocular pressure to the change of the volume of the eye.
Ocular rigidity coefficient, which according to the Friedenwald, is the measure of
resistance of the eye to the forces that tend to deform it, is represented by the slope of the
line of intraocular pressure versus volume of deformation of the eye. However, the
measurement of ocular rigidity remains problematic due to the lack of accurate, clinically
viable, non-invasive measurement technique. The purpose of this study was to present a
new device for the measurement of IOP and ocular rigidity.
Methods-device
The apparatus consists of an opto-mechanical head, which comprises a sensor and a
deformation force sensor, a camera and a microstepping motor. The deformation sensor is
a device consisting of two optoelectronics beamsplitter, a plano lens, a fiber and a light
receiver fiber. Carry sensor alignment with the tested eye through a camera is mounted on
the axis of the instrument. The alignment is based on the superposition of the reflection of
the light source from the optics of the instrument and the first Purkinje image of the cornea
and the eye under examination focuses on the source. This ensures that the plane defined
by the edge flattening is perpendicular to the axis of the instrument. This study examined
118 of eyes (right and left) in which IOP was measured with the new device after
measuring with a tonometer Goldmann (GAT).
Results
The mean age of participants was 60,42 years (±18,53 years). IOP was measured with the
device was 12,995 mmHg (±5,997 mmHg), while GAT IOP was 14,120 mmHg (±2,56
mmHg). The absolute mean difference between the two devices 4,40 mmHg (± 3,56
7
mmHg) and the correlation index between the two devices was p=0,992. The coefficient of
ocular rigidity measurements were 0,017μl−1 (±0,026 μl−1 ).
Conclusions
The non-invasive method is described and evaluated in this study is theoretically a way of
measuring intraocular pressure. Comparative measurements done using the commonly
used device Goldman exhibiting at this stage statistically significant deviations, which is
obvious by the low correlation index (p = 0,002) for 95% significance level. Further
measurements and modifications need to be made to this device to eliminate errors, and
their agreement with the measurements of the tonometer Goldman.
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