Non-corneal approach to measuring IOP revealed

BiCOM showcased its Diaton tonometer at this year's AAO/MEACO meeting. The pen-like, handheld, portable device can measure eye pressure through the patient's eyelid and over the sclera to enable diagnosis and prevention of blindness caused by glaucoma.

With no corneal contact, no anaesthesia or sterilization required the Diaton Tonometry approach is unique. Instead of using the Imbert-Fick law, as with Goldmann tonometry, this new approach implements Newton's Second Law and a Ballistic Principle to obtain the IOP. Readings are taken over the upper eyelid, at the tarsus and over the sclera not the cornea. This means that IOP measurements shouldn't be affected by CCT and other corneal parameters and diseases.

The company reports that a recent clinical study concluded: "Transpalpebral Tonometry is an accurate method of IOP measurement that is also independent from the biomechanical characteristics of cornea. It can be recommended for IOP measurements of patients diagnosed with glaucoma including those cases where cornea pathology or cornea characteristics have been altered."