IOVS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 1972;11:80-85.)
© 1972 by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by KAUFMAN, H. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by KAUFMAN, H. E.

Pressure Measurement: Which Tonometer?

HERBERT E. KAUFMAN 1

1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

Reprint request to: H. E. Kaufman, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. 32601.

In the search for more accurate ways to determine intraocular pressure, the Halberg applanation tonometer may represent an alternative to the Schiøtz tonometer for routine screening pressure measurements. Although between 100 to 150 measurements are generally required to gain proficiency with the Halberg, the instrument is accurate in patients with normal corneas even with very abnormal scleral rigidity, which would make Schiøtz readings inaccurate. In patients with corneal disease and irregular corneal surfaces due to edema or scarring, however, the optical applanation tonometer cannot be accurately used. In these patients, also, the Schiøtz tonometer is not only inaccurate but also may consistently read low and be grossly misleading. As validated by direct measurements with a cannula inside the eyes of patients with irregular corneal surfaces, the electronic applanation tonometer (MacKay-Marg tonometer) provided the first measure of the true intraocidar pressure in patients with corneal edema and corneal scarring. The Bausch and Lomb air tonometer could provide readings of generally comparable accuracy but is considerably less convenient to use in patients with irritated eyes or nystagmus or after keratoplasty. In patients with corneal disease and corneal edema, even modest elevations of intraocular pressure can contribute to edema and disease. Conversely, through neglect of this factor, the group with previous ocular damage has an increased likelihood of having elevated intraocular pressures and suffering irreversible damage. An adequate standard of ophthalmologic care now seems to require some provision for the measurement of pressure in patients with corneal disease.

Key Words: glaucoma • intraocular pressure • tonometer • Schiøtz • Halberg • Goldmann • MacKay-Marg • Perkins • Draeger




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. Ophthalmol.Home page
P Fogagnolo, L Rossetti, F Mazzolani, and N Orzalesi
Circadian variations in central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma
Br. J. Ophthalmol., January 1, 2006; 90(1): 24 - 28.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. Ophthalmol.Home page
A C Browning, A Bhan, A P Rotchford, S Shah, and H S Dua
The effect of corneal thickness on intraocular pressure measurement in patients with corneal pathology
Br. J. Ophthalmol., November 1, 2004; 88(11): 1395 - 1399.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. Ophthalmol.Home page
A. Azuara-Blanco, T. K Bhojani, A. R Sarhan, C T Pillai, and H. S Dua
Tono-Pen determination of intraocular pressure in patients with band keratopathy or glued cornea
Br. J. Ophthalmol., June 1, 1998; 82(6): 634 - 636.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1972 by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology