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Medical Forum / General / Vision / August 2006Ocular hypertension: Evaluation of
Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is easy to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected IOP > 23 mm in only 4 of 22 cases, and this is the range where accuracy is most essential. On Ebay one can sometimes find "classical" applanation tonometers at reasonable prices. These are quite accurate, but the topical anesthetics needed for their use are not available without prescription. And I already have three kinds of eye drops!  SignatureRobert T. Kopp http://analytic.tripod.com > Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is easy > to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected IOP > 23 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > needed for their use are not available without prescription. And I already > have three kinds of eye drops! The classical ones are the old time mechanical ones?? Don W. >> Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is >> easy to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > The classical ones are the old time mechanical ones?? Yes. I have never had it done that way, but my mother did, at a doctor's office, when I was a boy. SignatureRobert T. Kopp http://analytic.tripod.com > Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is easy > to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected IOP > 23 [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Robert T. Kopp > http://analytic.tripod.com Are you wanting to check your own pressure? It is not possible to use an applanation tonometer on yourself, someone else has to use it on you and needs to understand how to do it as well as use the drops. The Proview was not intended for diagnosing high pressure. The idea was to provide a means for a patient under treatment to monitor at home whether pressure was changing between scheduled trips to the eye doctor. So if you normally read 14 or 15 on the Proview and it shoots to 20 several days in a row you could call your doctor; what is important is the change not the absolute value. The need to check your own pressure at home is questionable. Monitoring glaucoma progression is best accomplished by inspection of the optic nerve, measurement of the nerve fiber layer and field study; IOP measurement is incidental. Glaucoma damage develops slowly and there is not likely to be major changes between scheduled rechecks with your doctor. The frequency of assessment should be set according to the severity of your disease and likelihood of progression. Dr Judy >> Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is >> easy to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > an applanation tonometer on yourself, someone else has to use it on you > and needs to understand how to do it as well as use the drops. Well, if your IOP doubles in six months, perhaps you're interested in checking it more often than a doctor would. (Could be the effect of steroids used during that time.) The B & L kit might do, in the sense of being better than nothing. All the air-puff models seem to be prohibitively expensive. SignatureRobert T. Kopp http://analytic.tripod.com > >> Bausch & Lomb sells the Proview Tonometer for about $100. This kit is > >> easy to use. Unfortunately, according to reviews it correctly detected [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > The B & L kit might do, in the sense of being better than nothing. All the > air-puff models seem to be prohibitively expensive. I forgot about your previous posts about your high pressure being a side effect of steroid use. In a case of steroid response, I would think your doctor would be monitoring your pressure more often than every six months to make sure glaucoma drops are working, and then would check once or twice after steroid use stopped to make sure your IOP came back down. In any event, you should discuss with your doctor whether there is any need for home monitoring of IOP while on the steroid. Dr Judy > Are you wanting to check your own pressure? It is not possible to use > an applanation tonometer on yourself, someone else has to use it on you > and needs to understand how to do it as well as use the drops. American Optical (non-contact) #12415 seems like a popular item. Anyone may purchase it. Current Ebay bid is over $300, so I imagine it will go for considerably more than that. SignatureRobert T. Kopp http://analytic.tripod.com > > Are you wanting to check your own pressure? It is not possible to use > > an applanation tonometer on yourself, someone else has to use it on you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > purchase it. Current Ebay bid is over $300, so I imagine it will go for > considerably more than that. Checked out E-bay, that is a 25+ year old instrument and you will need someone else to measure your pressure with it. Those older models do not have auto fire and can be quite frustrating for a novice user to line up and take a reading. NCT usually reads a point or two higher than applanation tonometers. Up to you whether or not you buy it for home use. Make sure it still has the manual so you can calibrate it and instruct someone on how to use it. Consider whether the amount of money you will spend on it would be better spent on having your eye doctor check your IOP monthly while you are on the steroid. Dr Judy |
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