SCIENTIFIC REPORT

Transpalpebral tonometry: reliability and comparison with Goldmann applanation tonometry and palpation in healthy volunteers

A Troost¹, S H Yun², K Specht¹, F Krummenauer³ and O Schwenn⁴

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
² Department of Ophthalmology, Allgemeinkrankenhaus Barmbek (AKB), Rübeukamp 148, 20309 Hamburg, Germany
³ Department of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Obere Zahlbacher Strasse 69, 55131 Mainz, Germany
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Bürgerhospital Frankfurt am Main, Nibelungenallee 37-41, 60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Annette Troost
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany; Annette.Troost{at}gmx.de

Background/aim: TGDc-01 is a new, portable, transpalpebral tonometry device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of this method, including intraobserver and interobserver deviations, and to compare the results with those of Goldmann applanation tonometry and palpation of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: A total of 40 eyes of 20 healthy volunteers were included. Two independent parallel observers (1 and 2) performed three replicate measurements per eye, respectively, both using TGDc01 tonometry, one observer (3) performed three replicate measurements using Goldmann applanation tonometry, and one observer (4) measured the IOP via palpation. Intraindividual deviations within and between both observers using TGDc-01 tonometry and between all three methods were investigated about clinically relevance by comparison of medians and quartiles, statistically significance by pairwise sign tests. Comparisons between observers and methods were based on averaged IOP values of the three individual measurements for each observer and each patient. Intraobserver deviations were analysed by means of Friedman tests.

Results: Observers 1 and 2 showed a statistically significant intraobserver deviation when using TGCc-01 (Friedman p = 0.007 for observer 1 and p = 0.002 for observer 2). There was no statistically significant interobserver deviation between observers 1 and 2 (sign test p = 0.200); however, in 45% of the eyes interobserver deviations were larger than plus or minus 3 mm Hg. The median intraindividual deviation between TGDc-01 and Goldmann (TGDc-01 minus Goldmann) was 0 mm Hg (interquartile range –1; 2 mm Hg; sign test p = 0.522); but deviations were larger than plus or minus 3 mm Hg for 38% of the 40 eyes. Median intraindividual deviation between TGDc-01 and palpation (TGDc-01 minus palpation) was –2 mm Hg (interquartile range –4; 1 mm Hg; sign test p = 0.018), but deviations were larger than plus or minus 3 mmHg for 43% of eyes. Median intraindividual deviation between Goldmann and palpation (palpation minus Goldmann) was 2 mm Hg (interquartile range –2; 4 mm Hg; p = 0.429), but deviations were larger than plus or minus 3 mm Hg in 48% of the eyes.

Conclusion: Interobserver deviations using TGDc-01 tonometry and intraindividual deviations between TGDc-01 tonometry, Goldmann applanation tonometry, and palpation of IOP were found to be clinically relevant. Thus, according to our results TGDc-01 could not be established as a substitute or diagnostic alternative method for Goldmann applanation tonometry. But as deviations between TGDc01 and Goldmann turned out smaller than between palpation of IOP and Goldmann, TGDc-01 seems to provide a better choice for tonometry in patients, in whom Goldmann applanation tonometry is not possible.

Keywords: transpalpebral tonometry; Goldmann applanation tonometry; palpation

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