Why Is the Test Needed?

The puff of air measures the pressure inside your eyes. If your eye pressure is higher than normal, you’re at increased risk for developing glaucoma. Glaucoma happens when high pressure damages the optic nerve, the crucial connection between the eyes and the brain. Optic nerve damage is permanent and can cause partial or complete loss of vision.

Although anyone can develop glaucoma, the eye disease most often affects people over age 40, according to the American Optometric Association. Glaucoma risk factors include:

• Thin Corneas
• Diseases or Conditions (Your risk for glaucoma may be higher if you have diabetes, migraines, sickle cell anemia, or high blood pressure.)
• Family History of Glaucoma
• Corticosteroid Use
• Race (People of African American, Hispanic or Asian heritage are more likely to develop glaucoma.)
• Eye Surgery, Injury, or Inflammation

What Are the Advantages of Puff-Less Eye Exams?

During a puff-less eye exam, your eye doctor uses a device called an applanation tonometer to measure eye pressure. The device probe is applied directly to your cornea, the clear tissue that covers your iris and pupil. The probe temporarily flattens your cornea and provides an instant reading of your eye pressure. During the test, you may look into a slit-lamp, a lighted microscope that magnifies your eyes, or your eye doctor may use a handheld device.

Puffless-eye exams offer these benefits:

• No Discomfort. Those puffs of air may not hurt, but they can be a little uncomfortable. Before your optometrist performs a puff-less test, he or she numbs your eyes. Thanks to the anesthetic effect of the drops, you won’t feel a thing during the test. A dye is also added to the eyes to make it easier to spot any changes or abnormalities in your corneas.
• A Quicker Option for You. If you blink when the puff of air is aimed at your eyes, the test may need to be repeated several times until a pressure can be obtained. Unfortunately, the longer the test goes on, the more likely you may be to flinch and blink. With the puff-less method, you don’t need to do a thing, which means the test can be conducted in just a few seconds.
• Less Anxiety. Do you spend your time in the waiting room dreading those puffs of air? The puff-less test makes visits more pleasant and eliminates anxiety about glaucoma testing.
• Accurate Results. The applanation tonometer offers results that are just as accurate as the puff test. If your pressure is higher than normal, your eye doctor may recommend additional testing or may prescribe eye drops to lower your pressure. If eye drops don’t help, laser or traditional surgery may be used to improve drainage in the eye and reduce pressure.
• Good Option for Children. Children can also develop glaucoma, although they have a much lower risk than adults. If your child hasn’t been cooperative in the past or hates the puff test, the puff-less test offers a better option.

Protect your eye health with a puff-less eye exam! Contact our office to schedule your appointment with the optometrist.

Sources:

• American Optometric Association: Glaucoma https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/glaucoma?sso=y
• American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Wiki: IOP and Tonometry, 6/22/2022 https://eyewiki.org/IOP_and_Tonometry
• Eye News: Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Skills with the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer, 8/2/2024 https://www.eyenews.uk.com/education/top-tips/post/step-by-step-guide-to-mastering-skills-with-the-goldmann-applanation-tonometer
• Cleveland Clinic: Tonometry, 9/10/2024 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22859-tonometry
• MedlinePlus: Glaucoma Tests, 10/24/2023 https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/glaucoma-tests
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Glaucoma https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/about-eye-disorders/glaucoma.html