Preliminary measurements on human eyes using a noninvasive self-tonometer

We developed a new tonometer prototype that may prove useful for noninvasive self-tonometry. Previous studies suggest that the device determines the IOP by measuring the force required to deform the cornea as function of distance. The goal of this experiment was to measure the IOP on human subjects with the new tonometer prototype and compare it with the Goldmann standard method. A group of five patients (10 eyes) was studied, specialists performed the IOP reading by standard Goldmann tonometry and using the new tonometer prototype. The data was collected using the new tonometer prototype and a custom Lab View program. Preliminary data of IOP was obtained directly from the eyelid. This is the first phase in the process of demonstrating the clinical potential of this new tonometer for home self-tonometry. Intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring has revealed that diurnal fluctuations in IOP are one of the parameters associated with a strong and significant risk of glaucoma progression. An effective self-tonometer and a clinical method for its use by the patient at home would help in the management of glaucoma progression.