Crosswords1 min ago
eye test
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.This is a routine part of an eye examination carried out normally on anyone over 40 years of age (in some practices over 30 years of age).It is part of a series of tests for an eye disease called glaucoma, which is a leading cause of blindness in the western world.
The test you had done measures the pressure by blowing a puff of air at your eyeball and using the relative displacement of your tear film by the air to work out the eye pressure.
Depending on the practice you attend, it can be carried out by a person who has only received the training necessary to operate the machine; or it could be carried out by the optometrist themselves.Some large multiple/chainstore practices will do this as a 'pre-test' so the optometrist will have all possible info before seeing the patient. In smaller independent practices, the optometrist tends to do all these things themselves. It's not because the other staff can't operate the machinery - it's simply to save the optometrist's time. It's like the practice nurse measuring your blood pressure, rather than your GP.
If you actually have a serious phobia of the puff of air test, there is an alternative - to have a local anaesthetic in the eye and a measuring device pressed aginst your cornea.In that case there is a greater risk of harm - if you move, or blink (or your practitioner has a shaky hand!) your cornea will be scratched; and when that anaesthetic wears off, will you know all about it!
I am an optometrist (as some of you may have guessed...) and I have to say I would much rather the puff of air. Faster, no risk of scratching the eye, over in a split second.......no contest.
And I have worked for two highly well known large national chains, as well as two independent practices - no bias intended in this reply.
Hope this helps, Hgrove.