Tonometers are used to measure Intra-Ocular Pressure or IOP of a person to determine risks of Glaucoma. Earlier, these ophthalmic equipment used to be only with ophthalmologists. With the advancement of technology, portable tonometers were introduced for home purposes. However, this innovation raises the concern of appropriate use of the device.
Tonometer has been a device for experts. To make it available and usable for general public does increase inconvenience of ophthalmic check-ups but subsequently increases the uncertainty about the quality of data obtained. Neither all are equally educated nor i everyone equally skilled. Thus, any sane person’s logic would also consider the way in which data were collected before a decision is made about the condition of the patient’s eyes.
Convenience of use, accuracy of data, cost of the device and portability are generally the main factors considered by people before a Tonometer is purchased for self-tonometry. Preferrence of people has been found inclined towards low cost and portability. These factors are quite expected to be preferred by any lay man. However, to conduct self-tonometry, it has to be understood that people cannot only consider according to their point of view. Tonometry is an experts’ task and is done by those who have required expertise.
It does not mean that the scope of advancement of medical science with the help of technology has been limited. The issue is that tonometers are advanced devices that serve to detect and treat eye conditions like Galucoma. This if they have to be used by public at home or other places, people have to have certain degree of expertise to use the device properly. Otherwise, the entire purpose of creating portable tonometers would render no benefit due to unfit data.
The solution to this problem would come from both the device and people. Results of self-tonometry would become reliable only if it is done with a completely automatic tonometry. Any ophthalmic equipment that gets influenced by users’ skills is less likely to produce correct data. Data obtained by any such device would always be influenced by factors of dependence on users’ skills. On the other hand, apart from development of automatic tonometers, education and training for users are also required. If these 2 objectives are achieved, the reliability of results of self-tonometry would significantly increase.
These facts are based on studies and surveys that were conducted on some people. The results revealed that training does increase a person’s ability to align the device properly with the patients’ eyes. However, tonometry done by portable devices was significantly inconsistent. Tonometry done by untrained people was far more inconsistent than those done by trained experts. The alignment was rarely improper when automatic or desktop tonometers were used. This quite clearly established that ‘tried and tested’ ophthalmic equipment are still the best for eye examinations. FitEyes actively participated in these studies and collaborated with other eye pressure research communities to provide most authentic information on the topic to users.