Using sensors to estimate intraocular pressure: a review of intraocular pressure telemetry in clinical practice

Introduction: If intraocular pressure (IOP) is the sole modifiable risk factor for glaucoma progression, glaucoma management should not rely on a vague estimation of its value measured over seconds, out of the 31,536,000 seconds in a year. A technology that would allow continuous and accurate IOP measurement in any situation could drastically enhance the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and advice we give glaucoma patients.Areas covered: This review covers the development history of IOP telemetry devices, from Green and Gilman’s first 24-hour telemetry concept in 1974 to the two devices commercially available today: Sensimed’s TriggerFish contact lens sensor and Implandata’s implantable monitoring device. Through a systematic review of the articles indexed by the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health between November 1969 and July 2019 with the keywords ‘telemetry’, ‘continuous iop’ and ‘24 hour iop’, it details the ongoing contribution of telemetry to glaucoma knowledge.Expert opinion: The usage and purpose of the currently available telemetry devices remain specific and targeted. However, we foresee that this is likely to change in the upcoming years, with the advent of new, more versatile devices and ergonomic modules. The future of telemetry may lie in miniaturization, connectivity and new organic measures.