1993 Volume 12 Issue 3-4 Pages 3-4_47-3-4_53
In pilot studies conducted on Holstein-Friesian calves and adult cows with clinically normal eyes, we tested the measurement capabilities of the Perkins tonometer, the Keeler Pulsair tonometer, the Tono-Pen XL tonometer (TONO-PEN), and the Alcon Applanation Pneumatonograph (ALCON). These pilot studies showed that the TONO-PEN and the ALCON can be used for eye measurements in cattle. We subsequently measured 5 adults and 7 calves using the TONO-PEN and the ALCON.
Experiment 1: Measurements were taken by three persons (A, B, and C) in the sequence TONO-PEN (1)→ALCON→TONO-PEN (2).
Experiment 2: Measurements were taken by one person (A) in the sequence ALCON (1)→TONO-PEN→ALCON (2).
An average of 4 measurements with each tonometer were taken of the right and left eye alternately in both experiments. The average measurements taken by person A using the TONO-PEN (1) and the ALCON (1) were 23.4±5.9 mmHg and 12.1±3.5 mmHg, respectively, for adult cows and 17.2±4.0 mmHg and 10.9±3.5 mmHg, respectively, for calves. Measurements using the TONO-PEN were consistently higher than those using the ALCON in experiments 1 and 2. The values were more scattered in the TONO-PEN measurements and among the measurements taken by different individuals than in the measurements taken with the ALCON. The correlation of TONO-PEN and ALCON measurement values was low. At the time of rumination, measurements using the TONO-PEN were possible, but the rate of error was large. Measurements could not be taken by with ALCON.
