# A new glaucoma test? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126 "2004-08-23T19:30:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/1 "2004-08-23T19:30:04Z")
I went to the eye doctor today (first time in 3 years, bad boy!) and when the time came for a glaucoma test, I was trying my best not to anticipate the _poof_ of air shot into my eyeball. Well, I didn’t have to. There was none. The nurse put some solution in my eyes to numb them and touched my eye with some sort of probe. I asked why they didn’t use the _poof_ test and she said people tend to anticipate the _poof_ by holding their breath. This, she says, can give improper readings. I’m not complaining, mind you. I’ve always hated the _poof_ test. When did this test come along? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/2 "2004-08-23T22:15:53Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I went to the eye doctor today (first time in 3 years, bad boy!) and when the time came for a glaucoma test, I was trying my best not to anticipate the _poof_ of air shot into my eyeball. Well, I didn’t have to. There was none. > > The nurse put some solution in my eyes to numb them and touched my eye with some sort of probe. I asked why they didn’t use the _poof_ test and she said people tend to anticipate the _poof_ by holding their breath. This, she says, can give improper readings. > > I’m not complaining, mind you. I’ve always hated the _poof_ test. > > When did this test come along? I believe it predates the “poof” test. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/3 "2004-08-23T22:19:44Z")
Dug around a little and found [this site](http://www.agingeye.net/glaucoma/glaucomaeyeexam.php#) and the test I had was this: > [@](#): > > The current standard is to use a Goldmann applanation tonometer to determine the intraocular pressure. The device is mounted on the slit lamp. An anesthetic drop and a dye (fluorescein) is placed in the eye and the gonioprism is made to gently contact the cornea. The physician sees green rings through the gonioprisms and when the half rings overlap (the ‘endpoint’), the eye pressure reading in mmHg is recorded. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/4 "2004-08-23T22:23:56Z")
I had a probe-type test when I got my first pair of glasses in the early 60s, so it’s not new. (And the eyedrops made you unable to focus your eyes for hours.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/5 "2004-08-23T22:25:06Z")
> [@Joe Mahma](#): > > I believe it predates the “poof” test. Yes, it does; the ‘poof’ test was designed to be convenient, quick and less uncomfortable than the probe, but the downside is that it isn’t as reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/6 "2004-08-23T22:46:46Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Yes, it does; the ‘poof’ test was designed to be convenient, quick and less uncomfortable than the probe, but the downside is that it isn’t as reliable. Odd, since with the probe, I felt nothing. The _poof_ test was unpleasant and, in one case, the assistant had to do it five times. My eyes were gushing water after that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/7 "2004-08-23T22:53:21Z")
Maybe they’ve improved that too; I had a probe test (I’m not sure if that’s any more the proper name for it than ‘the ‘poof’ test’ is the proper name for the other one) a number of years back; they dropped anaesthetic into my eyes, made me wait five minutes, then clamped my head in a cradle and probed my open eyes with a machine (the actual bit that did the probing was a rounded glass rod, illuminated with blue light). It was quite unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/8 "2004-08-23T22:56:37Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I’m not sure if that’s any more the proper name for it than ‘the ‘poof’ test’ is the proper name for the other one The _poof_ test is sometimes called the “air puff tonometer”. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/9 "2004-08-23T23:05:36Z")
The latest in tonometry is the [Tonopen](http://www.sussexvision.co.uk/tonopen.htm)[sup]TM[/sup]. It’s a little difficult to use but it can be done quickly and without having to use the slit lamp (for those who may not have a slit lamp) and it can be done without taking contact lenses out. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-glaucoma-test/261126/10 "2004-08-23T23:43:50Z")
I’ve had both, and I prefer the probe, even with the extra hassle of the drops. I always jump at the “poof” and I’m convinced it doesn’t read me right, even though I’ve never had a problem with the probe test. I do have some family history of glaucoma, so I want to keep on top of it.