Which instrument is an example of a tonometer?

Which instrument is an example of a tonometer?

• A. Stethoscope
• B. Ophthalmoscope
• C. Slit Lamp
• D. Applanation Tonometer

Answer: (D)

Measuring intraocular pressure is what a tonometer does. The instrument designed for this purpose by flattening a small area of the cornea is an applanation tonometer. It works by applying a calibrated force to gently applanate the cornea and using the needed force to estimate the eye pressure, which helps screen for glaucoma risk because high pressure can damage the optic nerve over time. Other ophthalmic tools have different main roles: a stethoscope listens to bodily sounds, an ophthalmoscope lets you examine the retina and optic nerve, and a slit lamp provides a magnified view of the eye’s structures but does not measure pressure. So the example of a tonometer is the applanation tonometer.

Measuring intraocular pressure is what a tonometer does. The instrument designed for this purpose by flattening a small area of the cornea is an applanation tonometer. It works by applying a calibrated force to gently applanate the cornea and using the needed force to estimate the eye pressure, which helps screen for glaucoma risk because high pressure can damage the optic nerve over time. Other ophthalmic tools have different main roles: a stethoscope listens to bodily sounds, an ophthalmoscope lets you examine the retina and optic nerve, and a slit lamp provides a magnified view of the eye’s structures but does not measure pressure. So the example of a tonometer is the applanation tonometer.