Carolina Optics carries four distinct tonometry solutions. Here’s how they compare and when each one makes the most sense.
| Product | Type | Drops Required | Positional Freedom | Best Setting | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iCare IC200 | Rebound | No | 200° — seated, supine, reclined | Ophthalmology, optometry, difficult patients, pediatrics | Full positional measurement |
| iCare IC100 | Rebound | No | Upright only | High-volume optometry, primary care | One-hand, fastest throughput |
| iCare HOME2 | Rebound (self-use) | No | Self-measurement at home | Glaucoma monitoring, RPM | Diurnal IOP + cloud portal |
| Tono-Pen AVIA | Applanation (Mackay-Marg) | Yes | Any position — true handheld | OR, bedside, satellite, mobile | Proven portability, statistical confidence |
Four instruments. Four different strengths. Understanding when each one earns its place is the fastest way to a confident purchase decision.
Choose the IC200 when your workflow requires IOP measurement in positions other than upright seated. If you see post-surgical patients, manage complex glaucoma, or work across clinical settings where patient positioning varies, the IC200 eliminates the constraints that limit most tonometers. It is the most versatile rebound instrument iCare makes.
Choose the IC100 when speed and simplicity matter most. In a practice that measures IOP on every patient in a seated position, the IC100 keeps the lane moving without the overhead of drops, air-puff anxiety, or calibration routines. It is the right pick for practices that want reliable rebound tonometry without the positional versatility of the IC200.
Choose the HOME2 when you need IOP data beyond what a single office visit can provide. For glaucoma patients whose pressures fluctuate throughout the day, or for post-surgical monitoring between visits, the HOME2 turns IOP from a snapshot into a trend line. The cloud portal makes it practical to review data without adding chair time.
Choose the Tono-Pen AVIA when portability and measurement flexibility are non-negotiable. In the OR, at bedside, or across satellite locations, the AVIA goes wherever the patient is. It does require topical anesthetic, but its statistical confidence rating on each reading gives clinicians a built-in quality check that rebound instruments do not offer.
The right tonometer depends on three things: where you measure, who you measure, and what you do with the data afterward.
If you routinely need supine or reclined IOP, your options narrow to the IC200 (rebound, no drops) or Tono-Pen AVIA (applanation, drops required). If upright seated is your standard, the IC100 delivers the fastest lane throughput.
Rebound tonometers (IC200, IC100, HOME2) require no topical anesthetic, which speeds pre-testing and improves patient comfort. The Tono-Pen AVIA requires a drop but compensates with a statistical confidence grade on every measurement.
If you manage glaucoma patients and want to track diurnal IOP variation or monitor between visits, add the HOME2 to your program. It is the only instrument here that puts IOP data collection in the patient's hands, with results accessible through a cloud portal.
Many practices carry more than one tonometer. A high-volume optometry lane might run the IC100 for routine screening while keeping a iCare IC200 in the surgical suite and offering HOME2 loaners for glaucoma patients. These instruments complement each other more often than they compete.
Schedule a hands-on demo. We'll bring the equipment to your practice so you can evaluate it with your team and your patients.