I would like to purchase a tonometer.

[LeeLiam]

My doctor has reluctantly said she may be able to help me purchase an iCare Home tonometer so I can measure my eye pressure at home but she's been very slow to respond to my requests. Has anyone purchased this or any other brand of tonometer? It seems the manufacturers do not want to sell directly to patients.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi LeeLiam.Some eye specialists think the iCare home tonometer is okay for people to use and others still unsure. The main reason is that you need to be shown how to use it properly by your eye specialist first and this may well be why the company are reluctant to sell it directly to non medical people.

If not used in the correct way it can give you false readings and unnecessary worries.

[LeeLiam in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

Helen, I think there is more to it than that. The same could be said for using a blood pressure cuff but my cardiologist is delighted that I measure my own BP two or three times a week.

[Derfahrer]

Hi, I am in the US, and have purchased an Icare Home. My specialist at the time was not really in favor, but he wrote me a prescription and then I was able to get through a distributor. The rules for this are going to vary by country, so not sure what Icare's rules are for the UK.

I have since switched doctors, and my current doctor is VERY interested in the data that I have collected. I see this changing as younger and more open-minded doctors come into the field.

[eyesong in reply to Derfahrer]

Hi from Texas, I love this website it has been so informative hearing other people , I try not to chim in too much, but this is a favorite topic of mine. I finally made the plunge after much research and lack of help from Doctors I have seen, and purchased a DIATON last year at my own expense of course, and after being unable to purchase the ICARE device that at the time was not really accessible for an individual patient to use. The President of DIATON , sold me the device, it came to me by mail new with all instructions, and offered video instructions to help my husband make the readings, as this machine is hand held and must be perfectly vertical etc. so I can't use it by myself. The good thing is you never have to worry about anything touching your cornea, it works on the eye lid outside of your eye. Even the ICARE that is being used now in some practices touches your eye, so to me that is still a possible transmission of virus etc. They have come a long way in making ICARE more useful for at home use, but they still want to control all your readings etc. I am for all patients being more informed about Glaucoma and anything that helps on a daily basis should be encouraged.

[LeeLiam in reply to Derfahrer]

Derfahrer, I am also in the US (Georgia). I think the original iCare Home had a readout on the device. The newer ones require the data to be downloaded to a software program (iCareLINK). It seems if I purchase the device, only the doctor has the software. Not exactly what I wanted. Does your device use the software? If so, were you able to get a copy of the program?

[Derfahrer in reply to LeeLiam]

Hi, yes I was able to get (through "backdoor channels") a copy of the Icare LINK software, and that is what I use to get the readout. Send me a private message if you want to discuss more.

There are a couple of avenues to get the Icare in the US without going through your doctor, as long as you have a prescription. But you might need to be persistent and tell them "my doctor will write a prescription but otherwise has no interest in this"

[eyesong]

I wish I could have measured my IOP years ago on a daily basis, that is why I purchased a DIATON device last year. My Retina Doctor thinks it is cool as he uses hand held devices in his practice , like Icare and the Ipen etc, but these devices still need to be sterilized etc. for touching the eye. The DIATON never touches your eye, it works on the top of your eyelid right above the eyelashes, but it needs to be used by someone else due to the eye must be closed and the device held perfectly still and vertical. I am going to sell my device if anyone is interested at a very good price of $2,000 US. I have a new Glaucoma Dr. that I love, (after 30 years of being treated you can tell right away!) and she will measure my IOP anytime I want by dropping by her ofc.. She recently prescribed a new eye drop to add to my other 2 I take and it has lowered my IOP from 28 to 17 and I am fine with that. It is called Pilocarpine 1% drops contain preservatives unfortunately, and apply 2 times daily. I already use Cosopt PF two times a day and Zioptan PF at bettime, plus I take a pill 3 times a day Methazolamide 50mg. I am being treated by my Retina Dr. also as I have dry Macular Degeneration disease and start injections next week, so I needed to bring the pressure down before the injections as they raise the IOP . I am curious to see how your research comes out to read your IOP.

[LeeLiam in reply to eyesong]

eyesong, Thank you for that information. I will look into the DIATON.