Eye pressure test

A standard eye test that determines the fluid pressure inside the eye.

The test is called tonometry.</P> Increased pressure within the eye is a possible sign of glaucoma, a common and potentially very serious eye problem if it is not detected and treated promptly.

It is recommended that adults over age 40 have tonometry for glaucoma every 3 to 5 years by having their eye pressures measured.</P> The pressure inside the eye is measured from the outside.

The pressure can be measured without anything touching the eye.

The patient looks up close at an instrument that blows a small puff of air into the eye and then uses a special kind of sensor (like a tiny radar detector) to detect the amount of indentation that the air puff causes on the surface of the eye.

This indentation is normal and only lasts for a fraction of a second.</P> If patients need to have their eye pressure measured in a setting where this type of machine is not available (as in an emergency room), the pressure can be measured with an instrument resembling a pen.

One end of the instrument is placed on the surface of the eyeball.

This feels like having a contact lens put in the eye.

However, tonometry does not cause significant pain and it is risk-free.