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Measurement expertise shared by German NMI will establish Czech Republic centre of excellence for intraocular pressure

EMPIR project 'Developing research capabilities for traceable intraocular pressure measurements' (16RPT03, inTENSE) is working to establish a new centre of excellence at CMI in the Czech Republic for the traceable measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) with medical devices called tonometers. These devices provide an effective way to screen for intraocular hypertension, which is the only treatable risk factor for glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness.

State of the art IOP measurements currently exist only at PTB in Germany, with many countries in Central Europe falling well behind.

This project will ensure that through CMI, ophthalmology professionals and manufacturers of tonometers in Central Europe will have a traceability chain to validate their devices, ensuring patients receive more effective glaucoma screening tests.

The OIML (International Organisation of Legal Metrology) is the international standards body that develops model regulations and standards documents. Its Technical Committees (TCs) are made up of experts in different technical areas.

In June 2018, PTB applied for a new OIML Recommendation "Ophthalmic instruments, Non-contact tonometers" under TC 18 "Medical Measuring Instruments", which was subsequently approved by the relevant committee. This is the first step in the harmonised approach to IOP metrology in Central Europe.

This EMPIR project is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.

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