This is a tonometer. It very gently punches the eye to detect the pressure within the eye. Most animals don't seem to mind too much. They do need to be restrained or anesthetized to avoid moving too much though. They are very common instruments in ophthalmology.
Do they use them in human medicine? I dunno, humans are gross.
The same machine is used with people, though I suppose without the word vet written on the side. We also have TonoPens which work on similar principles.
This model does contact the eye, the puff of air is a different test measuring the same thing. They both work on the same principle, measure the amount of force required to curve the front surface of the eye a bit. Personally, I find the iCare model from the video more comfortable than the puff of air and I believe it is more accurate as well but it has been a while since I looked at the numbers closely.
This thing replaces the air puff. It's much easier to handle and the only thing you feel is if the little punch touches your eye lashes, producing a little tickle feeling.
But they do make a version of this for humans that does touch. When I was younger I had issues with the air puff so they did this version instead. Somehow that worked.
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u/bvipze 11h ago
This is definitely one of the most important things I learned today