Measuring Eye Pressure Accurately
Authors: Eliasy, A., Chen, K.J., Vinciguerra, R., Maklad, O., Vinciguerra, P., Ambrósio Jr, R., Roberts, C.J., and Elsheikh, A.
Journal: Experimental Eye Research
Publication Date: Oct 2018
Test rig showing the eye sitting on a rigid support and supported from the back while being connected to a syringe pump that controls its IOP. CorVis ST is placed at a distance to enable its automatic trigger.
Summary:
Measuring the pressure inside our eyes, known as intraocular pressure (IOP), is essential for detecting and treating eye-related conditions such as glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and increased eye pressure is a significant risk factor for its development. Therefore, accurate measurement of IOP is crucial.
In our study, we aimed to address the limitations of the standard method for measuring IOP, the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT). This method can be influenced by variations in the thickness and stiffness of the cornea, leading to inaccurate results. To overcome these issues, we developed a new technique called biomechanically-corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP), using a device called the CorVis ST.
We put the bIOP method to the test using ex-vivo human eyes (eyes from donors). We controlled the internal pressure of the eyes and then measured it using the CorVis ST, which generated both traditional IOP measurements (CVS-IOP) and biomechanically-corrected bIOP measurements. By comparing these measurements to the true IOP (IOPt), we aimed to determine if the bIOP method was more accurate and less influenced by corneal thickness.
Our findings were promising. We discovered that the bIOP method provided significantly more accurate measurements of IOP compared to the CVS-IOP readings. Furthermore, the bIOP measurements were less affected by corneal thickness and biomechanical properties, which is a major advantage over the traditional GAT method. This means that the bIOP method can potentially improve the detection and treatment of glaucoma and other eye-related conditions.
Our research has the potential to revolutionise how eye pressure is measured and monitored, leading to more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes for patients. We hope that this breakthrough in IOP measurement will inspire further research and development in this field, ultimately benefiting the millions of people who suffer from glaucoma and other eye conditions worldwide.
In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the biomechanically-corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) method is a significant improvement over the traditional Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT) method. By providing more accurate IOP measurements that are less influenced by corneal thickness, our research has the potential to improve the detection and treatment of glaucoma and other eye-related conditions.