Prof. A.P.Nesterov TRANSPALPEBRAL TONOMETER FOR INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE MEASURING

Eye tonometry is one of the leading methods used in the patient with ophthalmopathology checkup. The first tonometer acceptable for clinical practice was designed and described in 1884 by A.N.Maklakov [2]. The tonometers introduced earlier had serious drawbacks and were not used in clinical practice. Before this the intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated only approximately with the help of eye palpation through the upper eyelid. At present palpation method is still widely used in clinical practice. Using it a skilled ophthalmologist can evaluate approximately whether ophthalmotone is normal (Tn), increased (T+1, T+2) or decreased (T-1, T-2), distinguish normotension from hyperor hypotension. The palpation method suffers from subjectivism, uncertainty of results at ophthalmotone moderate change but at the same time it shows the principle possibility of transpalpebral tonometry.