CLINICAL COMPARISON OF THE PROTON AND TONO-PEN TONOMETERS WITH THE GOLDMANN APPLANATION TONOMETER

A clinical evaluation of a new electron ProTon tonometer was performed comparing the values of intraocular pressure (IOP) measured using this instrument with those determined by a similar instrument, Tone-Pen XL, and by Goldmann applanation tonometry. The mean IOP measured in 106 eyes with the ProTon tonometer was not significantly different from that determined with Goldmann applanation, while the IOP values measured with Tone-Pen XL were significantly lower. The 95% limits of agreement between applanation tonometry and ProTon tonometry were between -4 mm Hg and 5 mm Hg and between applanation tonometry and Tone-Pen XL tonometry between -3 mm Hg and 8 mm Hg. The ProTon tonometer appears to have a higher level of accuracy than the Tone-Pen XL tonometer in clinical practice.