Tonometer for home use-any advice please

[ChristinaGL]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and was relieved to find this supportive network. I have just been diagnosed with closed angle glaucoma, optic nerve slight damage in left eye already. And have had the laser iridotomy (9 days ago) in both eyes, hoping that it will have worked. I am on drops including steroid drops. I want to have a way of checking my pressures regularly at home long term, for me this will be far less stressful than not doing it. I am a natural health practitioner and am very keen to help myself and be empowered with my own healthcare. My hope is that I could manage without drops in the future if the iridotomy is successful.

The NHS glaucoma clinic is struggling to deal with demand here. From searching online, I see how little is available for home use. The most common one seems to be the iCare home tonometer but it seems to be a rebound one which touches the eye, and one needs to keep replacing the probes. I wonder about a non-contact one where there wouldn't be the risk of scratching the eye. And my partner could do it for me. I found this non-contact tomometer pen and wondered if anyone here has any experience of this: Contactless Tonometer of the intraocular pressure Tono-Pen IGD-03 Diathera ИГД03. I know that they are not 100% accurate but if they are consistent at least I would know what was normal for me and if there were spikes.

ebay.co.uk/itm/235113150424

Thank you

Christina

[muddledme]

Hello ChristinaGL,

The Glaucoma UK Helpline may help to answer questions about Tonometers, 01233 64 81 70 . If you are lucky your Opthamologist may suggest availability and suitability. Often the medical secretaries will ask the Consultant on your behalf if you have long waits between appointments.

I know that my hospital Virtual clinic uses a form of iCare and a hospital in Yeovil Somerset will sometimes loan Tonometers to suitable patients.

Perhaps other hospitals do this ?? It seems such a sensible idea for motivated patients, but sadly as you say it all takes NHS time.

There have been posts on here from people who seem to have used these devices with good effect, so I hope you hear from some.

Sorry, I have no experience of them as my pressures seem fairly regular now since Preserflo surgery for open angle glaucoma.

I do hope you find something helpful, it wil be interesting to hear.

Best wishes

[ChristinaGL in reply to muddledme]

Thank you for your reply. When I asked at the hospitals (in Newcastle and Sunderland) they were very surprised at the question and told me I can't do it at home. But thanks for the number, and yes, hopefully get some other responses here - I am wondering about the contactless tonometer pen I posted the link for. I am glad your pressures are regular now. Best wishes

[eyesong]

It is sad little help in allowing us to monitor our own IOP at home. All hand held devices are expensive and no discounts for the patience.

[ChristinaGL in reply to eyesong]

I agree Eyesong, I have been quite shocked at how little help there is with this, as it could be quite crucial in helping to prevent vision loss, I feel.

[Peg99]

Hi Christina

I have had open angle normal tension glaucoma for many years and some 12 years ago I looked into buying a tonometer of some sort.

Speaking to my Ophthalmologist, Optician and reading reviews on the internet I found that the Tono-pens were not considered to be reliable enough for me. The Professionals would not have been prepared to accept the Tono-pen readings as accurate. In the end, I settled on an ICare which my husband uses to measure my pressures (there wasn't a self measuring machine available then). As you say, it was very expensive but I needed the control of my glaucoma that knowing my pressures has given me. You quite rightly say, as well as the cost of the ICare, the probes are once only use so they have to be replaced which also works out to be quite expensive. I have never used a Tono-pen so have no first hand knowledge of it. I have heard in the past from American contacts that the tono-pen is/was used more in the USA by ordinary folk. If you can find a glaucoma site that covers the US, you might find some practical help. You might also look online for reviews of the Tono-pen, the National Library of Medicine has carried out a study comparing the pen to the Goldman link below

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

Good Luck

[valfrance in reply to Peg99]

Just pay at specsavers every 3 months in between your hospital visits thats what i do. It just gives you reassurance that you are monitoring yourself.cheaper than buying a machine and accurate

[ChristinaGL in reply to Peg99]

Thanks so much Peg99, I will definitely take up your suggestions. I feel the same as you about needing the control of the glaucoma, and being able to respond quickly if the pressures change. I have had the iridotomy and am hoping I won't need to take drops eventually if it has worked properly, but given that it might change over time, I really need to monitor it regularly, even if I just end up testing once per week probably in the morning when pressures can be higher. Best wishes.

[Ruralrobyn]

Just interested myself as also follow natural remedies / solutions where possible and am adverse to taking timolol as recently prescribed this in addition to Monoprost

[ChristinaGL in reply to Ruralrobyn]

Yes I was given Timolol at first and ended up light-headed and fainting! (I already have low blood pressure)!

[Ruralrobyn in reply to ChristinaGL]

What were you given as an alternative? as would like one that doesn't have the effects that Timolol is giving me too

[ChristinaGL in reply to Ruralrobyn]

I was given Dorzalomide on its own, twice per day, and also Latanoprost, one drop at night. I feel some side effects from the latter... this is my treatment post laser iridotomy for closed angles, and this will all be reviewed at my next appointment. I have just stopped the steroids I had to take now, but they can increase pressure, so the above was intended to counteract that too. I am hoping to drop the Latanoprost. I hope that helps.

[Benji73]

Dear Christina, may I ask how you went with the Tono-Pen IGD-03. I am also wanting a non contact measuring instrument and am not keen on ICare.

[ChristinaGL in reply to Benji73]

Hello Benji in the end I bought an iCare device for measuring myself as this seemed to be the one more supported and recognised here in the UK. I have found it easy to use but the readings vary hugely for me even in a small space of time. At the hospital when compared with the Goldman, it was found to test around 6 points higher for me! I don't know if this has something to do with the shape of my eyes, as I have heard that other people find it more accurate. So I really don't know what to trust now... at least it gives me an idea of when my pressures are higher, and that tends to be in the morning. I did send it back to be calibrated and it came back the same. I am hoping of course that the Goldman is the accurate one but who knows for sure? Sorry not to have a clear recommendation. But you may find that it works well for you.