RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Goldmann applanation tonometer (TAG) is the gold standard for the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP). In paediatric patients this measurement is challenging. The rebound tonometer (TRB) is an easy to use instrument. In the National Ophthalmology Unit (UNO) the tips of the TRB are re-sterilised (TRB RE). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between TRB with new and re-sterilised tips compared to TAG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 healthy patients between 8 and 12 years of age, chosen at random, and seen in the UNO outpatients department during 2019. IOPs were measured with TRB using re-sterilized tips and then with a new tip, and finally with TAG. RESULTS: There was a correlation between IOP measured with TAG and IOP measured with TRB (P=.0011). No correlation was found between TAG and TRB RE, or TRB with TRB RE. CONCLUSIONS: The TRB can be used in paediatric patients, taking into account that IOP usually overestimates with respect to TAG.
