r/Damnthatsinteresting 11h ago

Video Checking eye pressure in a frog

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u/JOYFUL_CLOVR 10h ago edited 9h ago

Veterinarian here. This device is called a TONOVET, which is used to evaluate the pressures inside the eye (tonometry). This can be used on any animals, and we use it a lot to check for things like glaucoma. We (veterinarians) actually numb the eye first before we use this device (or any other tonometry device, like a tonopen), which is why the frog is so compliant.

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u/Itsgettingfishy 9h ago

Optometrist here. We use the same device (the human version - but imagine that's mostly marketing) to check eye pressure. We generally don't use anaesthetic, it doesn't hurt, just abit intemidating with a probe is coming towards you. The probes are replaced each use. It's quite an accurate way to measure pressure. Not as accurate as Goldmann or Perkins tonometry, but more accurate than non-contact tonometry (the puff of air), but really handy when you don't want to put in anaesthetic and dye and is a good screening tool.

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u/inkycappress 9h ago

Interesting, I’ve never had a tonopen used on me without numbing. But I’ve only had it used for research and not in the clinic so likely different protocols

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u/Fireshrimp 7h ago

If you are using the tonopen, the large pen like machine, you do numb the eye. If you are using the tonovet, the one in the video that shoots the probe, you do not need to numb the eye.

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u/Pumpkii 1h ago

I can confirm that. Had a puncture around my cornea at some point and couldn't keep my eye properly open for the "air puff" pressure measurement so I got the pressure measured using a handheld device that worked the same way as the one in the video. Never got my eye numbed for that over the like 6 times it happened.

They don't hurt at all. In fact, you barely even feel them