by Joel Harrison
1. August 2011 14:12
Measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) has always been a problem for contact lenses users, who have to remove them every time they undergo such a test. Now, however, thanks to a new tonometer, called DIATON, it is possible to measure IOP without touching the cornea.
Apart from the fact that it does not require removing contact lenses during a test, the new tonometer has several advantages over the previous ones. First of all, it provides accurate results irrespective of the properties of the cornea (such as thickness or rigidity), which often affect the measurements. Another thing is that it is a hand-held device and will allow IOP to be tested on a much larger scale, thus helping to reduce the number of cases of glaucoma-related blindness. Moreover, the fact that the tonometer does not have to touch the cornea means that there is no risk of infection or scratching.
The Diaton tonometer has been tested during multiple clinical trials and compared with other tonometers with positive results.
Glaucoma, although it is now easy to treat, still remains one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries, so an effective means of diagnosing it is crucial to solve the problem.
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