Air-Puff Tonometry in population research - a comparison with Goldmann tonometer in individuals with suspected ocular hypertension

ABSTRACT Purpose: to evaluate the use of air tonometer (TA) in population studies in individuals suspected of ocular hypertension, comparing values with those provided by the Goldmann Tonometer (GT). Methods: a cross-sectional study was done using a probabilistic sample consisting of 11,452 individuals e"20 years old.A subsample composed by the individuals with IOP values obtained with TA e"20 mmHg was selected, in which IOP was repeated with the GT. The results of both tonometers were compared considering gender, referred color of skin, laterality, cup-to-disc ratio (Â0.6; e"0.6 and <0.8; e"0.8) and diagnosis, considering three situations: without glaucoma (NG), suspected glaucoma (SG) and patients with glaucoma (CG). The Student t test was used for paired samples and the Pearson correlation test to evaluate the association between IOP, age and tonometry. Results: we identified 198 individuals (339 eyes) with IOP e"20mmHg with the TA, who had the measures repeated with the GT. Two hundred and thirty-three eyes were considered as NG, 47 eyes as SG and 19 eyes as CG. In eyes with cup-to-disc ratio e"0.8, the TA and GT measurements were similar. In NG and SG, the TA overestimated values. There was an association between increased IOP and increasing age with both tonometers. Conclusion: IOP values are higher with TA compared to GT, especially when IOP is normal.There is agreement between the methods when IOP is high and the optic nerve excavation is increased, which validates the application of TA in population campaigns.