Study assesses macaque-specific tonometry mode for primate IOP

Version 1 — Brief

A new ex vivo study suggests a macaque-specific mode on the iFalcon™ V100 rebound tonometer may improve intraocular pressure measurement in non-human primate research. According to the study summary, the device’s species-specific setting showed a very strong correlation with an invasive pressure sensor across a 5–90 mmHg range, with an reported R² of 0.99, supporting its potential use for measuring intraocular pressure in macaques. The finding adds to a long-running effort in ophthalmic research to improve tonometry accuracy in non-human primates, where corneal biomechanics, positioning, and anesthesia can all affect readings. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary ophthalmology and laboratory animal teams, better-calibrated species-specific tonometry could help reduce uncertainty when monitoring glaucoma models, ocular safety studies, or longitudinal eye health in macaques. Earlier work with other rebound tonometers in rhesus and cynomolgus macaques found good overall performance, but also showed that readings can drift with corneal thickness, body position, or pressure range, underscoring why species-specific calibration matters. Because this new assessment was ex vivo, it’s best viewed as an early validation step rather than proof of in vivo clinical performance. (tonovet.com)

What to watch: The next key milestone will be in vivo validation in macaques, especially studies testing repeatability, performance under anesthesia or restraint, and agreement in clinically relevant pressure ranges. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)