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An ocular pressure Tono-Pen is a handheld tonometer used to measure intraocular pressure, or pressure inside the eye. It gently touches the numbed surface of the cornea with a small probe tip. The device is often used when a portable or bedside eye pressure measurement is needed. It is one tool used in glaucoma screening, eye injury evaluation, and eye-pressure monitoring.
read more about ocular pressure tonopen ...An ocular pressure Tono-Pen is used to estimate intraocular pressure in clinical settings. Eye pressure measurement can help evaluate glaucoma risk, ocular hypertension, eye trauma, postoperative concerns, or acute eye symptoms. It is useful when a patient cannot sit at a slit lamp or when a handheld device is more practical. Results are interpreted with corneal findings, optic nerve exam, symptoms, and other eye tests.
The Tono-Pen uses applanation tonometry, meaning it estimates pressure by measuring the force needed to flatten a tiny area of the cornea. A disposable probe cover is usually placed on the tip before measurement. Numbing drops are used so the touch is more comfortable. The device takes several readings and displays an averaged pressure value.
The clinician applies numbing drops and asks the patient to look straight ahead. The covered probe tip is gently tapped against the cornea several times. The device analyzes the readings and displays intraocular pressure in millimeters of mercury. The clinician may repeat the test if the signal is poor or the result does not match the clinical picture.
Tono-Pen measurement is generally quick and well tolerated, but it requires clean technique and a new probe cover for each patient. Readings can be affected by corneal thickness, corneal swelling, scarring, poor fixation, squeezing the eyelids, or device calibration. A single eye pressure reading does not diagnose or rule out glaucoma by itself. Eye pain, sudden vision changes, halos, nausea, or severe redness should be evaluated promptly.
Yes. It briefly touches the numbed surface of the cornea with a covered probe tip.
It should not be painful because numbing drops are used. Some patients feel mild pressure or a light tapping sensation.
No. It measures eye pressure, which is one part of glaucoma evaluation. Diagnosis also depends on optic nerve findings, visual field testing, imaging, and other exam results.
The disposable cover helps reduce contamination between patients and protects the probe tip. A new cover should be used for each patient according to device instructions.
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Intraocular Pressure Measurement With Pneumatonometry and a Tonometer Tip Cover. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32078144/. Date Accessed June 16, 2026.
Tono-Pen AVIA Tonometer. Reichert Technologies. https://www.reichert.com/en/products/tono-pen-avia. Date Accessed June 16, 2026.