Tonometers For Home Use Anyone Got One Or Recommend

[valfrance]

I am researching at home use on tonometers in terms of their accuracy and price etc. I know they can be expensive this would be a long term investment I don't want to keep upgrading etc.

Does anyone have one?I would like to take my own measurements as your pressure can change all the time. Its just for my peace of mind really as check ups maybe every few months. I would rather be aware if my pressure raised drastically. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Valfrance

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

For measuring IOP, the best-known device is the iCare home tonometer. This costs around £2000, and uses contact tonometry, requiring disposable probes (£50 for 50). The manufacturers recommend the iCare home tonometer is used 3-4 times a day. The advantage of this is that you could get lots of measurements of your IOP, to identify your typical eye pressure. Eye pressure naturally fluctuates, over any given day and also over longer periods of time. When you visit the hospital, you may be attending at a time when your pressure is at its highest or when it is at its lowest measurement for the day. By contrast, collecting more measurements at home enables to you get more of a feel for the overall pattern of your eye pressure. Think about this a bit like your weight if you’re on a diet – sometimes you’ll be heavier, sometimes you’ll be lighter, but what matters is the overall trend in your weight.

However, there are also disadvantages to the iCare Home tonometer. Obviously, it costs a lot of money for starters! The device can be fiddly to use, and measurements aren’t that reliable. For example, if you don’t have the device lined up exactly at right angles to the cornea, the result won’t be accurate. If you blink during the measurement, you won’t get a proper reading. Also, if your IOP is fluctuating, you might get concerned unnecessarily. In addition, the iCare Home tonometer doesn’t take into account factors such as the thickness of your cornea. If you have a thin cornea, the iCare will underestimate the pressure, whereas if your cornea is thicker then it will overestimate the result. It would also be important to be shown how to use it properly and not to rely on written instructions. We strongly advise that you seek your eye doctor’s opinion before making any decisions and paying for anything. Hope this helps.

[valfrance in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

Hello Helen thank you for your reply it is very informative. It would appear that these machines are not that popular as no on else has responded. I was hoping that someone was using them. I will ask my doctor thank you valfrance