New Method of Monitoring Intraocular Pressure for Glaucoma Patients
at Home
¡@¡@Dr. Dexter Yu-Lung Leung, Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said, "Lowering the IOP adequately is the most important treatment for glaucoma patients. Traditionally, patients were treated based on IOP level measured in eye clinic. However, studies have shown that diurnal fluctuations in IOP do occur. Sometimes, the IOP level measured in eye clinic may not truly reflect the IOP level at home for glaucoma patients. As a matter of fact, such variation is a risk factor for further glaucoma damage to the optic nerve." ¡@¡@Professor Dennis Shun-Chiu Lam, Chairman of the DOVS of CUHK stated, "Treatment catering for IOP levels both in eye clinic and at home will be desirable. In the past, attempts have been made to devise instruments for home IOP monitoring. However, they were not accurate enough, not safe enough, too expensive, or too complicated to operate." ¡@¡@Pressure Phosphene Tonometer (PPT) is a new device using phosphene - a visual sensation resulting from pressure applied through the eyelid to the eyeball and then to the retina - to measure IOP. It was first being used in America. Since January 2002, the DOVS of CUHK has been conducting pioneering clinic studies on PPT. More than 300 patients have been recruited to investigate the accuracy, safety and patients' degree of acceptance in using the new device, in comparison with Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, the gold standard for measuring IOP. The results are encouraging and part of them will be published soon in "Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science", a world-renowned journal with an impact factor of 4.15. PPT is considered to be a good candidate for home monitoring of IOP in suitable patients. ¡@¡@Professor Lam supplemented, "PPT benefits most to glaucoma patients with large diurnal fluctuations or to those whose IOP control is not yet stable. The device may not be applicable to those with difficulty in hand tremor; or those who fail to understand or perceive the phosphene; or those with moderate to advanced glaucoma who will have too little optic nerve function to perceive any useful phosphene." ¡@¡@"The key to a successful self-tonometry is proper technique and training. A beginner may not get the correct reading every time, but with experience and maturing of technique, most of patients can!" Dr. Leung added. |