Eye Pressure Test (Tonometry)

A quick, non-contact check for glaucoma risk

Glaucoma Screening

Eye Pressure Test (Tonometry)

The eye pressure test, or tonometry, measures the fluid pressure inside your eye — a quick, painless check that's one of the most important tools for catching glaucoma early, often years before it would otherwise be noticed.

What is tonometry?

Your eye continuously produces and drains a clear fluid called aqueous humour, which maintains the eye's shape and pressure. When drainage doesn't keep pace with production, pressure builds up inside the eye — a key risk factor for glaucoma, a condition that can silently damage the optic nerve and cause irreversible vision loss if left unchecked. Tonometry measures this pressure directly, giving Dr. Dhaval Patel an early warning sign, often well before any symptoms appear.

Why it's done

Elevated eye pressure is one of the strongest known risk factors for glaucoma, and glaucoma itself is often called the "silent thief of sight" because it typically causes no pain and no noticeable symptoms until significant, permanent vision loss has already occurred. Regular eye pressure testing is how this risk gets caught while it's still manageable — through monitoring, eye drops, or other treatment — rather than after damage is done.

What to expect during the test

At Sadbhaav, we use a non-contact tonometer — nothing touches your eye. You'll rest your chin and forehead against a support and look at a target light. The machine directs a brief, gentle puff of air at your cornea and measures how it responds to estimate the pressure inside your eye. Many patients are startled by the puff the first time, but it isn't painful, and no anaesthetic drops are needed. The whole test takes just a few seconds per eye.

Understanding your result

Normal intraocular pressure typically falls between 10 and 21 mmHg, but a single number rarely tells the whole story. Some people have naturally higher pressure without developing glaucoma, while others develop glaucoma with pressure in the "normal" range. That's why an elevated reading isn't a diagnosis on its own — Dr. Dhaval Patel will usually combine it with an optic nerve and visual field assessment before recommending any treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The non-contact tonometer doesn't touch your eye at all — you'll feel a brief, harmless puff of air, which can startle you but isn't painful.
No, nothing touches your eye. The air puff itself is the measurement — the machine reads how your cornea responds to it to estimate your intraocular pressure.
Normal intraocular pressure is generally considered to be between 10 and 21 mmHg, though what matters most is your individual reading over time and in the context of your overall eye health, not a single number in isolation.
A single high reading doesn't automatically mean glaucoma. Dr. Dhaval Patel will typically recommend further tests, such as visual field testing or optic nerve imaging, before reaching a diagnosis or discussing treatment.
You'll usually be asked to remove contact lenses beforehand, since the test needs a clear, unobstructed view of the cornea for an accurate reading.
As part of a routine annual eye exam for most adults, or more frequently if you have risk factors for glaucoma, a family history of the condition, or are already being monitored for elevated pressure.
Not entirely. Some patients develop glaucoma with normal-range eye pressure (normal-tension glaucoma), which is why eye pressure testing is combined with optic nerve examination and visual field testing for a complete picture.

Part of comprehensive glaucoma care

Eye pressure testing is one part of how we screen for and manage glaucoma at Sadbhaav, alongside visual field testing and optic nerve assessment. See our full range of diagnostic equipment.

Due for a glaucoma screening, or have a family history of the condition? Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp.

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Qualification from AIIMS

Our doctors are qualified from the prestigious AIIMS New Delhi. They are the best and experts in their respective fields.

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Our doctors have more than 10 years of experience in their respective fields.

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International Camps

Dr Dhaval Patel has conducted many eye camps in Africa and visits yearly for the same.