Why The Air Puff Test? - 2 Alternatives To Measuring Eye Pressure

The air puff test is one of the most dreaded tests at the eye doctor. But, it's important to measure intraocular pressure (eye pressure) to test for Glaucoma. This video goes over the importance of the non-contact tonometer (air puff), as well as two alternatives to measuring eye pressure.

WHAT IS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO
The non-contact tonometer does a great job at screening for irregular eye pressure to test for glaucoma. There are other alternatives to measure intraocular pressure as well. Goldmann Applanation Tonometry is consider the gold standard at measure eye pressure. It does require a numbing eye drop to obtain the measurement. Another option is called the Icare Tonometer. No air or eye drops are required to get this measurement, and can be fairly reliable and accurate when done right. A lot of patients prefer this method over the others.

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🕒TIMESTAMPS🕒
0:00 Intro
0:18 Why Measure Eye Pressure?
1:09 Non-Contact Tonometer, NCT (Air Puff Test)
2:18 Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT)
3:31 ICare Tonometer

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#glaucomatest #airpufftest #eyepressure

[mex]

I'm VERY flinchy and anxious about anything touching my eye, so I've never allowed the pressure test. I didn't know there was an option of something NOT touching the eye. This video has sold me on asking for the air puff test or tonometer. Thank you, Dr.EyeGuy! Hilarious takes of you with the air test. 😂

[emmu]

Had an eye exam today, my right eye was not cooperating with the air puff test. Gave me time to wonder about how these tests work and such. Interesting info!

[SQUDKDSHORTS]

When I saw the short for this video at first, I thought it was matpat.

[MarcelW]

As someone born with glaucoma, I'm used to all these test and they don't bother me at all. I know the GAT method is the most acurate. But even I didn't know the Icare one does touch your eyes ;). Very informative video !

[IronLordsPodcastRoundtable]

I'm here for Dr. EyeGuy's excessive blinking & all his air puff reactions lmao. All jokes aside, I hate the puff test as well. they use the GAT method which I actually don't mind. I didn't know about option#3 however. cool!

[johnyou]

All of these scare the hell out of me. I’m considering just cancelling my eye exam, and just never having one, because of this.

[ghostrider]

If you are afraid of getting your eyes numb…
I was afraid of getting numbing drops because I feared I would not be able to “feel” my eyes - much like numbing of the gums which is horrible in my view. The good news is that you will not be aware your eyes are numb. I finally had the ophthalmologist numb my eyes after his assistant shared that she had used the drops many times and could never tell they were even numb, and she assured me that the numbness would wear off in approx. 5 mins. That proved true for me. Apart from a slight sting when the drops were administered, my eyes did not feel different when I blinked. When I put my contact lens back in, I was slightly aware my eyeball was numb to the touch. It truly was not a big deal and I had been very anxious about it. I hope this helps someone. I could not find anyone explaining this when I searched the entire internet.

[DarthMan]

I get crippling anxiety over the eye puff test. Do you have any tips? I heard half the jump is the sound, is that true? Should I listen to music? Plug my ears?

[wyd.liv]

4:50 whenever i get that done, my eye pressure always reads way higher than the average, especially for my age. The doctor thought it was weird though and decided to have me go back and get another quick test to see if my cornea was just thicker than the typical persons cornea and it turned out it is!

[josefine]

When I get the air puff it shows very high pressure around 38mm/42mm - but when my eye doctor uses the Goldmann tonometer it is 20mm on both eyes. I really have lost my faith in the air puff technic...

[HAL]

After 30+ years of multiple checks per year, you get used the GAT and the drop - just bring some tear drops (systane ultra PF) for after the visit. I have noticed that some techs prefer the tonometer over GAT and are usually better at the tonometer. Have not had the puff test and never will after this video! ;)

Sort of prefer GAT as it is easier for me to focus on something to help keep eye movement low. And it stops the tech from hunting down the tonometer - GATs in every room but only a few tonometers. Going in for shunt surgery (left eye) tomorrow and just can't wait for pressure checks and the stings of cosopt (the generic of it at least) for the next 4 to 6 weeks.

[MattWolfe]

I definitely remember getting the eye puff test done for Glaucoma. I was like a preteen or a teen when they started to do it on me. I honestly dread it each time I go to the eye doctor. I have an appointment tomorrow just cause it's been a couple of years since I've been to an eye doctor and a few days ago I accidentally broke my glasses I snapped them if half by accident (oops on that 😬) so obviously I need new glasses. For my eye problems as far as I know I have Astigmatism which I'm sure is very common in a lot of people. I just wish I could see without my glasses. But at least there's always contact lenses if I ever decide to go that route.

[waverlyglenn]

When I first got the air test done something happened that scared me so bad that the next time I went and did that same air thing I fought like you wouldn't believe and I'm strong for being 4’9 and 16 and female

[travgames]

I can barely deal with something touching my eye to point of struggling with eye drops. I've had the GAT done one time, and stuggled with it. The next year, I had the iCare done, and I will never go back, and it's noted in my chart, to have that done, if possible.

[angelasimpson]

I have seen an ophthalmologist at least every year to two years and I have always hated the blue light pressure. I think it scared me as a kid. I prefer the hand held pressure check devices

[joytoy]

I had the GAT done for the first time this year. It wasn't bad at all but I always get really anxious about any sort of medical treatments. The thing I didn't like was that I had to have the dilation drops + the numbing drops for the whole appointment so my eyes felt pretty gross by the end of it all.

[dahlia]

The place I go to is an ophthalmology group and they use Tono-pens for screening and Goldman after if there is any concern.

[winklepicking]

I’ve come here because I’m 37 and I’ve never had the air puff or the pokey tests, EVER even though I had extensive optic atrophy from intracranial hypertension and I’m under 6 monthly ophthalmology supervision….. is there a reason why I’ve never had these tests?

[inshapekhabib]

I saw the doctor last week and she used the icare, didn’t know it touched my eye until I saw your video, I thought it was an air puff. Thanks

[julilla]

My doc uses the eye puff, and yes, I hate it. This year wasn't so bad, but in some past years we have had to try it over and over and over because I flinch so much. You were brave to use those "numbing" drops, they sting so much. Come to think of it, all of the drops at the eye doctor sting, what's up with that? 😂