EUROPEAN PROJECT ON DEVELOPING RESEARCH CAPABILITIES FOR TRACEABLE INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
EUROPEAN PROJECT ON DEVELOPING RESEARCH CAPABILITIES FOR TRACEABLE INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: Glaucoma is a major global cause of blindness responsible for significant percentage of all blind people in the world according to the studies of World Health Organization (WHO). As eye pressure measurements are essential for the prevention of this disease it is of great importance to have a reliable and precise measurements of intra ocular pressure (IOP). These measurements can be done by two main approaches: contact method and non-contact methods. Core of Work: In this paper we will be focusing on the non-contact tonometers that have gained a significant popularity in the recent years. Non-contact tonometers are one of the most used IOP measuring devices today. As they are fast, easy to use and provide a better level of comfort to the patient in comparison with a traditional contact eye tonometer devices. Unfortunately these advantages are shadowed by the lack precision and the ability of an independent metrological calibration, which can result in imprecise measurement that will affect the application of treatment. The basic issue for all types of IOP non-contact measuring devices is currently the lack of a universal transfer standard for the purpose of calibration that could be applied to measuring devices from all manufacturers. Conclusion(s): The current inability to deliver traceable measurements has let an international team of researchers from the national metrological institutes (NMIs) to address this issue by an European Union (EU) funded project that deals with this problematic area.

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