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According to studies conducted in the U.S., about 3 million Americans have glaucoma. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness. Generally, it is caused due to high eye pressure.
With an aging population, glaucoma is one of the problems that has risen over time. It is also one of the severe disorders for which there is no particular treatment. Although regular eye pressure measurement with the help of a device called an applanation tonometer can help you in checking your level of eye pressure, which can avoid vision loss.
In this blog, we will discuss how an applanation tonometer is used by a healthcare professional to avoid the risk of glaucoma.
Why do you need a tonometry test?
The optic nerve which is located at the back of your eye, is harmed by the deadly eye condition, this situation is known as glaucoma. The fibers that make up the optic nerve are very much delicate.
So, with the help of a tonometry test, healthcare professionals check your eye pressure to make sure it is within the usual range because high pressure can harm your optic nerves permanently.
The tonometry test does not provide the most accurate variables due to corneal thickness, as it can affect the results. However, according to the research, it has shown that the test can still be useful when it comes to avoiding a higher risk of developing glaucoma. The risk increases with increasing your eye pressure.
Further, glaucoma is a type of condition that can affect anyone at any age. It most frequently affects the older people. There are numerous types of glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma is the open-angle type that takes many years to mature.
Although most people do not have any symptoms until later stages as it does not cause pain, but can still result in blindness if neglected.
It is important that you should get your glaucoma diagnosed early; otherwise, you will lose your total vision with time. Still, if you have good vision, you should undergo a tonometry exam.
When you receive an early diagnosis, your doctor can recommend treatments to slow the disease’s progression before it results in vision loss.
What is an applanation tonometer?
Applanation tonometer is a device that works on the Imbert-Fick principle. This principle states that the pressure (P) within a sphere equals the force (F) required to flatten its surface divided by the area (A) of flattening.
The idea of flattening the cornea is applied in a variety of approaches to evaluate intraocular pressure. An applanation tonometer helps measure pressure that is influenced by the physical characteristics of the ocular surface, specifically corneal resistance and tear surface tension.
How is the test conducted by using an applanation tonometer?
An applanation tonometer is used to measure your eye’s fluid pressure. When you go for the eye pressure measurement, your eye pressure is measured during this test. A small, flat-tipped cone with supports for the forehead and chin and a slit lamp is used in the exam to gently touch your cornea. During the process, the test measures the amount of force needed to temporarily flatten a part of your cornea.
How to get ready for an eye pressure test?
When you go for your exam, you should take out your contact lenses. Otherwise, the contact lenses might be permanently stained by the dye. Also, if you have a family history of glaucoma, corneal ulcers, eye infections, or something else, you should tell your doctor beforehand. You should always tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking.
Conclusion
Glaucoma can only be identified with routine eye exams and an applanation tonometer. If it is detected and treated at an early stage, you will be able to avoid any serious vision loss or blindness.At Almagia International, we provide the best tonometer for eye pressure measurement, specially designed for ophthalmologists. This helps measure eye pressure to prevent any ocular damage.Visit our official website to know more.