THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A NONCONTACT, HANDHELD, INEXPENSIVE TONOMETER SUITABLE FOR SELF-TESTING IN THE HOME.

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PHASE I RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A NONCONTACT, HANDHELD, INEXPENSIVE TONOMETER SUITABLE FOR SELF-TESTING IN THE HOME. THE PROPOSED TONOMETRY METHOD OFFERS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVED HEALTHCARE: OPTHALMOLOGISTS, OPTOMETRISTS, AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM FASTER, MORE MEANING- FUL TONOMETRY WITHOUT ANESTHESIA; PATIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR THEIR OWN INTROCULAR PRESSURE (IOP) ON A CONTINUAL BASIS; AND THE EXPENSE OF TONOMETRY WILL BE DECREASED. THE PROPOSED TONOMETRY METHOD DEPENDS ON SUITABLE RESPONSES OF THE EYE TO SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SIGNALS. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS RESEARCH PLAN ARE TO ANSWER FOUR QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE PROPOSED TONOMETRY METHOD: 1. CAN THE EYE BE MADE TO RESPOND SUITABLY? 2. WILL THE ACOUSTIC SIGNALS OR THE EYE'SRESPONSE CAUSE ANY ADVERSE REACTIONS? 3. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EYE'S RESPONSE AND IOP? 4. IS SUITABLE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE AND CAPABLE OF PERFORMING AS REQUIRED? APPLIED MECHANICS MODELS AND ANIMAL STUDIES WILL BE USED TO ANSWER THE FIRST THREE QUESTIONS, AND BREADBOARD HARDWARE WILL BE BUILT TO ANSWER THE LAST. SATISFACTORY ANSWERS WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A PHASE II APPLICATION AND EVENTUAL PRODUCTION, SALE, AND WIDESPREAD USE OF A NEW TONOMETRY DEVICE.