Comparing the intraocular pressure values obtained with a rebound tonometer (TONOVET Plus) and an indentation tonometer (IOPvet) in dogs with and without ocular disease

Background This study aimed to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) values obtained from two groups of dogs using the IOPvet indentation tonometer to those obtained from the same dogs using an established rebound tonometer (TONOVET Plus). Methods Tonometry was performed on 36 dogs with ocular diseases (70 eyes; group A) and 25 healthy dogs (49 eyes; group B). First, the TONOVET Plus rebound tonometer was used. Then, one drop of oxybuprocaine hydrochloride was applied to each eye, and 1 minute later, the IOP was estimated using the IOPvet. Results The IOPvet was safe, well tolerated and easy to use. The instrument had a high specificity (98.5%) for identifying IOPs of 20 mmHg or less. A lack of sensitivity (67.9%) was noted when evaluating eyes with an IOP between 20 and 30 mmHg. The sensitivity (33.3%) for identifying canine eyes with an IOP of greater than 30 mmHg (n = 24) was low. Limitations This study lacks manometric work, which would be hard to justify with client‐owned dogs. Quantitative numerical data were compared with qualitative values and the same investigator obtained readings using both tonometers without being masked. Conclusions The IOPvet is highly sensitive for assessing normal IOPs, but underestimation of higher IOPs can lead to poor diagnostics. Digital tonometers remain the best way to assess IOP in veterinary clinics.