Intraocular pressure measurements (tonometry) Flashcards
What is intraocular pressure?
Intraocular pressure is the measurement of the fluid pressure in your aqueous humor. This might also be referred to as eye pressure or IOP. Intraocular pressure is important for the eyes health and vision.
How is intraocular pressure measured?
An eye care specialist will measure your eye pressure with a test called tonometry. The most common type of tonometry used is non contact or air puff tonometry.
What is the most common type of tonometry?
Non-contact or air puff tonometry.
When is tonometry used?
This is used when eye pressure is high. This could be caused by the eye producing too much aqueous humor, a blocked drainage angle that prevents the humor from leaving the eye, traumas, eye injuries, side effects from medications such as corticosteroids.
When is high eye pressure discovered?
A patient may notice that their vision is getting worse (due to the high pressure in the eye), so they get their eyes checked by a secialist, then the high eye pressure is discovered and diagnosed.
How is tonometry carried out?
Tonometry measures the pressure inside of the eye by flattening the cornea. The more force that’s needed to flatten the cornea, the higher the eye pressure is.
Your eye care specialist might also measure your intraocular pressure by numbing your eye with special drops, and then pressing a tool against your cornea.
What are the limitations or risks of tonometry?
Not portable
Expensive
Need for trained staff
May be inaccurate.
