Intraocular pressure and fundus examination, why you must get it

Intraocular pressure test

An intraocular pressure test is a test that measures the pressure inside the eyeball, which applies instantaneous pressure to the cornea and then measures the pressure required for the corneal area to flatten.

Intraocular pressure testing is divided into non-contact tonometry and contact tonometry. The difference is that the non-contact test measures intraocular pressure through the air, while the contact test measures it directly. Usually, patients who need to measure their intraocular pressure accurately are measured first with a non-contact tonometer, and then again using a contact tonometer. This is because contact tonometers allow for more precise measurements than non-contact tonometers.

Fundus examination

Fundus examination is a test that examines the retina, retinal blood vessels, and optic nerve at the back of the eye, and takes a picture of the back of the eye by sending light into the eye through the pupil.

Recently, in addition to fundus examination, OCT (light coherence tomography) has also been used. OCT is a device that uses the principle of shooting a laser through the eyeball to see all the problems in the entire layer of the eyeball. While fundus examination is 2D, OCT examination is like 3D, which has the advantage of being able to detect abnormalities in the eye more precisely.

Why should I have an intraocular pressure and fundus test?

Just as blood pressure and blood sugar are measured when you go to an internal medicine doctor, you need to have your eye pressure and fundus examined regularly at an ophthalmologist. This is because a simple eye test is not enough to catch all eye diseases.

The normal intraocular pressure level of our eyes is 10~21 mmHg. If the intraocular pressure rises above normal levels, the risk of blindness increases as well. Ocular hypertension is usually caused by inflammation or damage to the eye, which prevents water from escaping from the eyeball. When this happens, the blood that should be flowing from the outside of the eye into the retina is not able to enter, and the optic nerve in the eye gradually dies.

However, despite this, the majority of people do not notice any abnormalities until their intraocular pressure exceeds 40 mmHg. Ocular hypertension is sometimes referred to as the 'silent killer'. As your field of vision gets narrower and narrower, when you come to the hospital by the time you feel something is wrong, you are already one step too late.

As with the intraocular pressure test, fundus examination is also important. Fundus examination can identify problems at the back of the eyeball that are not visible from the front. A broken optic nerve bundle or a wrinkle in the macular area can also be seen through fundus examination.

Situations in which intraocular pressure and fundus examination must be performed

The following people should be screened regularly:

First, people with a family history of glaucoma and cataracts.

Second, people who suffer from diabetes. In particular, if you have been diabetic for more than three years, you should get tested at least once every six months.

Third, adults in their 40s and older. Since the incidence of eye diseases increases with age, it is recommended to have a check-up once every 1~2 years.

Fourth, people who do not have good corrective vision. In this case, it is possible that the cause of the low vision is not the retina, but the optic nerve, so it is necessary to have an examination.

Intraocular pressure and fundus examination fee

The co-payment required for general patients to undergo vision, intraocular pressure, and fundus examinations is only about 8~9,000 won when medical insurance is applied and 30,000 won when it is not applied. Intraocular pressure testing is covered by insurance for all age groups, but fundus examination is only available to patients with suspected glaucoma or a diagnosis related to retinal disease.