Comparison of a digital and a handheld infrared pupillometer for determining scotopic pupil diameter.

To compare a digital infrared pupillometer with a handheld infrared pupillometer for determining scotopic pupil size. Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 100 eyes of 50 healthy individuals (mean age 38.8 years +/- 10.7 [SD]), the scotopic pupil size was measured with a digital (Procyon) and a handheld (Colvard) infrared pupillometer. After dark adaptation of 1 minute, measurements were performed with both devices by 2 examiners (E1 and E2). Agreement and repeatability were analyzed using a comparison method described by Bland and Altman. The mean scotopic pupil diameter was 5.90 +/- 0.97 mm (range 3.24 to 7.91 mm) with the Procyon and 5.78 +/- 0.98 mm (range 3.00 to 7.30 mm) with the Colvard pupillometer. The mean difference between the 2 devices was -0.01 mm (E1) and -0.24 mm (E2). The limits of agreement ranged from 2.84 (E1) to 3.24 (E2). The coefficients of repeatability were 0.64 (Procyon) and 1.16 (Colvard). The mean difference between E1 and E2 was -0.10 for the Procyon and 0.13 for the Colvard pupillometer. The limits of agreement ranged from 1.28 (Procyon) to 2.32 (Colvard). The digital infrared pupillometer (Procyon) demonstrated better repeatability and agreement in measuring scotopic pupil size than a handheld device (Colvard).