Admin_NHT Staff asked 6 years ago Definition: The normal eye pressure or intraocular pressure is 12-22mmHg. Patients with values higher than this is considered to be susceptible to glaucoma. The test done to measure this change in the intraocular pressure is called tonometry.
Procedure:
First, the opthalmologist put numbing drops to numb the eyes. Then some doctors, stain the surface of the eye with a tiny, thin strip of paper containing an orange dye to improve the accuracy of the results.
Then, the patient will be asked the rest his head and forehead in the slit-lamp (a machine). Following this, the lamp is moved towards the eye till the tip of the tonometer touches the eye.
This instrument flattens the cornea and in this way, it measures the pressure within the eye.
The results are noted through the device and any pressure above 22mmHg indicates that the patient may have glaucoma or pre-glaucoma.
When is it done? :
Above 60 years of age
Diabetic patients
Patients with chronic eye disorders, hypothyroidism, and family history of glaucoma
Patients with blurred vision, severe eye pain and gradual loss of peripheral vision are also advised to check their eye pressure.