When patients visit your office to measure their eye pressure, they expect you to do it with a clean, sanitized tonometer. Otherwise, you risk exposing them to microbes that can spread viruses and wreak havoc on their health. Read on for tips on keeping your tonometers clean so your patients stay safe.
Clean the Prisms
There’s no time like the present to clean your tonometer, especially if it has been a long time since you last cleaned it. Start at the prisms—disinfect them with a bleach solution. However, leaving the prisms in the solution for too long may cause tip fractures or swelling. Look at the prisms closely to see if they have suffered any damage.
Spray The Sensor
If you use a TONO-PEN in your practice, you’ll need to use canned air on the sensor when cleaning your tonometer of your TONO-PEN. Count for three seconds as you spray it onto the tonometer’s tip.
This process will make the tip cool, so give the tonometer a chance to warm up. Afterward, you should perform the verification process as directed in the device’s manual.
Wipe and Dry the Exterior
Ensure the rest of your tonometer is clean. Wipe the outside of your tonometer with a soft cloth and a solution of water and alcohol. You can also use a non-abrasive cleaner during this process. After wiping the device, ensure it is dry before using it on your next patient.
Calibrate Your Instrument
You can guarantee your patient’s safety by calibrating your tonometer. However, this process may vary with the type of tonometer you use. For example, if you use a handheld tonometer, you should calibrate it every day. Another device, such as a Goldmann applanation tonometer, is different. When you start using it, you must calibrate it every six months. Then, calibrate it monthly after the first year.
Another way to keep your patients safe is using disposable tonopen covers from Automated Ophthalmics. You can use our powderless, made-in-the-USA products with handheld tonometers as you diagnose the pressure in your patients’ eyes.