Comparison of four tonometers in the measurement of intraocular pressure in healthy horses.
Authors: Angeluci Gismelli C, Ricci Cláudia L, Passareli João V G C, Estanho Giovana J G, Oliveira Adriana S, Santos Stephany G A, Giuffrida Rogério, Rodrigues Mirian, Andrade Silvia F
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Intraocular Pressure Measurement in Horses Accurate intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is essential for diagnosing equine ocular disease, yet the four handheld tonometers commonly used in equine practice—the rebound-based Tonovet and Tonovet Plus, and the applanation-based Tono-Pen AVIA Vet and Kowa HA-2—have not been directly compared for reliability and agreement in horses. Researchers assessed these four devices on healthy equine eyes, evaluating their consistency, repeatability, and clinical interchangeability across measurements. Findings regarding which instruments demonstrated superior accuracy and agreement will influence instrument selection in clinical settings where precise IOP values guide decisions on glaucoma screening and disease monitoring. For practitioners regularly assessing equine ocular health, understanding the strengths and limitations of each tonometer—particularly regarding their tendency to over- or underestimate pressure and their measurement variability—directly impacts diagnostic confidence and the comparability of serial IOP measurements in individual patients. These results provide evidence-based guidance for selecting the most appropriate tonometer for your practice, balancing factors such as ease of use, equipment cost, and clinical reliability.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Multiple tonometer options are available for equine IOP measurement; understanding their differences helps select the most appropriate device for your clinical setting
- •Rebound and applanation tonometers offer different advantages; familiarity with each type's methodology improves diagnostic accuracy in equine eye examinations
Key Findings
- •Four different tonometer types (rebound, applanation, and Goldmann methodology) were compared for IOP measurement in horses
- •Handheld tonometers including Tonovet, Tonovet Plus, Tono-Pen AVIA Vet, and Kowa HA-2 were evaluated for clinical utility in equine ophthalmology