The validity and reliability of rebound tonometry in children (4)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The validity and reliability of intraocular pressure measurement using rebound tonometry in young children.
IRAS ID
186371
Contact name
Leon Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN15954407
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 19 days
Research summary
The rebound tonometer (RBT) is used to measure eye pressure. High eye pressure can cause glaucoma leading to irreversible damage of the optic nerve in the eye, reducing the pressure is the main treatment.
Usually eye pressure is measured by the Goldman Applanation Tonometer (GAT). This method uses anaesthetic eye drops which some children dislike, resulting in the need for a general anaesthetic. The RBT device is relatively new and measures eye pressure without any anaesthetic drops. This device has a small probe that lightly touches the centre of the cornea without causing any discomfort. As it is relatively new we would like to compare it with GAT to see if it is accurate.
Children tend to look upwards when eye pressures are measured, so the RBT measurement may not always be taken at the centre of the cornea. Very little is known about how this sub-optimal (off-centre) position affects the measurements, especially in young children.
Connective tissue disorders like Stickler’s, Alport, Ehler’s Danlos and Marfan’s syndromes can affect the eye. We would like to compare central and off-centre corneal readings in children with connective tissue disorders with similar readings in healthy children (no eye surgery/medication, no high prescription).
Additional data concerning the children's eyes will be recorded from their medical notes where possible in order to examine the influence of other factors on eye pressure e.g vision, corneal thickness and curvature etc.
Children aged between 1 month and 16 years old with glaucoma, connective tissue disease and no eye disease will be recruited. One GAT, one on-centre and one off-centre RBT reading will be taken from one randomly selected eye (or the eye with glaucoma,or healthy eye if unilateral). This will take approximately ten minutes and will be undertaken at the eye department of Birmingham Children's Hospital.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0237
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion