APPLANATION TONOMETER HAVING CORNEA ALIGNMENT MEANS

摘要

An applanation tonometer (1) for providing a measurement of intraocular fluid pressure inside the eye of a patient. The applanation tonometer (1) includes a light-transmitting prism (3) having a cornea contact tip (10) at one end and a cornea alignment aid (44) at the opposite end. The cornea alignment aid (44) enables the patient to advise a vision professional when a light source (5) of the tonometer is properly aligned with his cornea so that intraocular fluid pressure can be accurately measured. The cornea alignment aid includes a light-blocking baffle (44) that is located opposite the cornea contact tip (10). A light-transmitting channel (46) is formed through the baffle (44) to lie on the longitudinal axis (48) of the prism. In a preferred embodiment, the light baffle is at least one opaque disk (45-1, 45-2), and the light-transmitting channel (46) includes a clear spot at the center of the opaque disk through which light is transmitted to the patient's cornea.