Comparisons of the tono-pen[registered] and goldmann applanation tonometer in the measurement of intraocular pressure of primary open angle glaucoma patients in a hospital population in Southwest Nigeria

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare intraocular pressure [IOP] measured with the Tono-Pen[registered] to that measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer [GAT] in patients with primary open angle glaucoma attending a glaucoma clinic

Subjects and Methods: A comparative clinic- based observational study was conducted involving 75 patients [39 men and 36 women] attending a glaucoma clinic in Southwest Nigeria. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data. The Tono-Pen and the GAT were used to measure the IOP in each patient. Central corneal thickness [CCT] was measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter, and the corrected GAT value was calculated for each patient. The Tono-Pen readings were compared with the uncorrected and corrected GAT readings. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Values for p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant

Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.39 +/- 16.71 years. The mean IOP using the Tono-Pen was 21.1 +/- 6.8 mm Hg versus the mean uncorrected GAT value of 17.1 +/- 6.9 mm Hg and the corrected GAT value of 18.9 +/- 7.5 mm Hg. The mean CCT was 510.5 +/- 29.6 micro m. The mean differences between the Tono-Pen reading and uncorrected and corrected GAT readings were 3.9 +/- 2.6 and 2.1 +/- 3.5 mm Hg, respectively. Gender [Tono-Pen vs. GAT; p = 0.981 vs. 0.437] and corneal thickness [p = 0.057] did not significantly affect the IOP value. Of the 75 patients, 68 [90.7%] preferred the Tono-Pen to the GAT

Conclusion: In this study, the Tono-Pen gave a higher value for IOP than the uncorrected and corrected GAT values. Gender and corneal thickness did not significantly affect the measurements. Most patients found the Tono-Pen more acceptable than the GAT

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity among eye surgical patients at a rural eye care facility in South-Eastern Nigeria

To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency infection among patients who underwent surgery at a rural eye care facility in southeastern Nigeria. A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who had undergone surgery and a pre-operative Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] test, between August 2008 and July 2009 at the Eye unit of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Ohaozara, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed for age, sex, type of surgery and HIV status. Frequency, percentage and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were calculated with univariate analysis and the parametric method. A total of 380 cases were reviewed comprised of 228 males and 152 females [M:F=1.5:1].The mean age of the cohort is 56 years [range, 4 years to 91 years]. Fourteen patients [3.7%; 95% confidence interval 1.8-5.6] were HIV positive. A high HIV sero-prevalence was reported in our study. Infection-control precautionary measures are indicated to minimize risk of HIV transmission to ophthalmic surgeons and allied health-workers