New research has found that the Icare Home tonometer (Icare Finland), an instrument patients use across each day to self-monitor intraocular pressure (IOP), may help improve management of glaucoma patients and suspects. A prospective study led by optometrist Jessie Huang (Centre for Eye Health, Sydney) showed that the instrument can provide reliable measures of diurnal IOP and detect changes to IOP in response to topical treatments within a short period of monitoring.
Published in Optometry and Vision Science, the study involved 40 glaucoma patients who were trained to use the Icare Home tonometer, then instructed to use it to measure IOP, in a sitting position, four times a day over four to six weeks.1
The researchers downloaded and analysed date, time, laterality, and IOP from the tonometer and clinical examination data, including applanation IOP and corneal thickness. Additionally, they asked participants to complete a user satisfaction survey at the study’s completion.
Groups and IOP were compared across the days with test data and analysis of variance. Pearson correlation was used to compare measurements to Goldmann applanation tonometry and IOP measurements from the first day/s to the overall mean IOP.
The authors reported that, “27 patients (18 suspects and nine glaucoma patients) completed data collection. Patients selfmeasured IOP on 118 (±29) occasions for 40 (±7.4) days. Two dominant patterns of fluctuation were revealed: peak IOP upon awakening (n = 11) and at midday (n = 13). Diurnal IOP measured in the first seven days showed strong correlation to diurnal IOP across the entire study period (r 2 = 0.82, P < .0001). Within 24 hours of treatment commencement (latanoprost 0.005 per cent ophthalmic solution), IOP reduced from 23.9 (±5.2) to 16.1 (±2.6) mmHg.”
The authors noted that most patients found the Icare Home tonometer easy to use though some had difficulty with correct alignment. They concluded, “rebound self-tonometry demonstrated utility for measuring diurnal IOP fluctuations in most patients, hence enhancing management of patient with or at risk of developing glaucoma.”
Icare Finland recently introduced mHome to the Australian market. mHome combines Icare Home tonometry with Icare Clinic, Icare Export and Icare Patient software.
Shane Hage, Icare’s Regional Director Asia Pacific said, “The new mHome concept recently launched in Australia will provide additional data to all professionals managing Glaucoma patients and another way for patients to be actively involved in their disease management process”.
ICARE SUPPORTS GLAUCOMA AUSTRALIA EDUCATION
Icare Finland has thrown its support behind Glaucoma Australia, contributing an education grant valued at AU$10,000 to the organisation. The grant will be used to progress the educational content provided via Glaucoma Australia’s website to people with glaucoma and health professionals.
Annie Gibbins, CEO of Glaucoma Australia said she was thrilled to receive the grant. “Glaucoma Australia will now be able to offer personalised educational content via an enhanced online registration functionality. This will then direct people with glaucoma and health professionals to deliver information specific to their condition, patient journey or profession,” she said.
“This initiative directly supports our mission to eliminate glaucoma blindness. Providing more relevant information to people with glaucoma will result in earlier detection, improved treatment adherence and better patient support.”
Mr. Hage said, “Icare Finland is excited to be partnering with Glaucoma Australia to improve the awarenes of glaucoma and the value of early detection, treatment adherence, education and support.
“If, through continued education, we can improve the quality of lives of people with glaucoma and if we can reduce the number of, or the onset of patients at risk of, glaucoma that must be a positive outcome for all.
Icare is distributed in Australia through Designs for Vision, part of the Paragon Care group.
Reference
1. Optometry and Vision Science: February 2018 – Volume 95 – Issue 2 – p 88–95 doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001172
