Tonometry

This is a measurement of the pressure of the liquid inside the eye, called the intraocular pressure (IOP). This is often referred to as the “glaucoma test” since having too much pressure inside the eye is a risk factor for glaucoma. However, this is just one test that doctors use to determine whether or not a patient has glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is the cable that connects the eye to the brain. In glaucoma, the high pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve and can lead to blindness if not treated. Most patients usually notice no symptoms during early stages of glaucoma, that is why eye doctors measure the pressure inside the eye during a comprehensive eye examination. Glaucoma is treated by prescription eye medications and several types of surgeries.

During tonometry, the eyes are first numbed with anesthetic drops. Our office uses the “gold standard” of eye pressure measurements, called applanation, which involves contacting the cornea with a pressure-sensing device, illuminated by a blue light. The patient doesn’t feel anything and the process takes only a few seconds. The measurements provided by this examination are instrumental in determining whether or not additional testing for glaucoma is warranted.

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