The Brawn Medical Blog

A tonometer is an instrument that measures the internal pressure of the eye, which is also known as intraocular eye pressure (IOP). An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) can use tonometry to diagnosis glaucoma - an eye condition where fluid accumulates in the patient’s eye, causing high eye pressure. The high pressure can damage the optic nerve at the back of the eye, and may even result in blindness if left untreated.

A slit lamp is an instrument which consists of a high-intensity light source. An eye doctor can shine a light from the instrument into the patient’s eye. This allows different structures of their eye to be observed in more detail as the slit lamp provides a magnified view. Also, a biomicroscope is used in combination with the slit lamp to allow the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to see the structure of the back of the patient's eye.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious eye infection of the cornea (clear ‘window’ at the front of the eye) that is painful and becomes inflamed and sight-threatening.

The infection is caused by a microscopic organism called acanthamoeba, which is common in nature and is usually found in lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water such as tap water, swimming pools, hot tubs, soil and air.

Developed over 50 years ago, goldmann applanation tonometry remains the gold standard for the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) to this very day.

The common misconception around goldmann type applanation tonometers is once you have bought your instrument no routine maintenance or calibration checks are required.

Maintenance is only considered necessary when something has wrong for example: