Part 1 of the Emergency Eye Care Series
When Every Minute Matters
A patient arrives in the Emergency Department complaining of severe eye pain.
Their vision is blurred.
Their eye is red.
They describe halos around lights.
They are nauseated.
For the emergency physician, one diagnosis cannot be missed:
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma.
Although relatively uncommon, acute angle-closure glaucoma is one of ophthalmology’s true emergencies. Rapid elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) may threaten permanent vision if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
Emergency clinicians are not expected to perform a comprehensive glaucoma workup. Their responsibility is to recognize potentially vision-threatening conditions, rapidly assess the patient, begin appropriate management, and obtain urgent ophthalmology consultation when indicated.
An eye pressure measurement is often an important part of that evaluation.
This is where the Diaton® Tonometer has found a unique role in hospitals, emergency departments, emergency rooms, and urgent care clinics around the world.
Emergency Departments Need More from a Tonometer
Emergency departments operate differently than ophthalmology clinics.
When evaluating equipment, clinicians and hospital administrators consider more than clinical performance alone.
They also think about:
- Is it ready when I need it?
- Can I take it directly to the patient?
- Is it simple to disinfect?
- Does it require disposable supplies?
- Will staff actually use it?
- How much ongoing maintenance does it require?
These operational realities are often just as important as the measurement itself.
Diaton Tonometer was designed with these real-world challenges in mind.
Emergency Department Ready™
Built for the Realities of Emergency Medicine
1. Ready to Use
One of the most common frustrations emergency physicians have expressed over the years is the need to perform routine calibration procedures before using some handheld tonometers.
When every minute matters, clinicians want equipment that is immediately available.
With Diaton, there is no routine user calibration required before measurement, allowing clinicians to retrieve the device and proceed with the examination following proper technique and the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use.
2. Handheld. Portable. Goes Where the Patient Is.
Patients are not always in an examination room.
They may be:
- Trauma Bay
- Observation Unit
- ICU
- Hospital Ward
- Fast Track
- Pediatric Emergency
- Bedside
Diaton is lightweight, handheld, battery operated, and portable.
Instead of bringing the patient to the equipment, the equipment goes to the patient.
From room to room, bay to bay, and bedside to bedside, Diaton is designed to move with the clinical team.
3. Simplified Workflow
Every additional step slows patient care.
Unlike many traditional approaches to tonometry, Diaton requires:
- No anesthetic eye drops
- No fluorescein
- No disposable tips
- No disposable probe covers
- No charging dock
With fewer supplies to locate and fewer preparation steps, clinicians can focus on the patient instead of the equipment.
4. Infection Prevention
Infection prevention remains a priority throughout healthcare.
The Diaton Tonometer supports efficient infection-control workflows by eliminating the need for disposable plastic tips and probe covers.
Following the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use and your facility’s infection-control policies, the entire external device, including the measurement tip, can be disinfected between patients using an approved alcohol wipe or alcohol swab.
Benefits include:
- No disposable plastic tips
- No disposable probe covers
- Entire device easily disinfected
- Reduced medical waste
- Simplified cleaning between patients
- Lower ongoing consumable costs
For busy emergency departments, fewer supplies often means fewer workflow interruptions.
5. Corneal-Independent Measurement
Unlike conventional tonometers that measure through direct corneal contact, Diaton measures intraocular pressure through the upper eyelid over the scleral area.
This corneal-independent approach may be particularly valuable in patients with:
- Previous LASIK or refractive surgery
- Corneal scars
- Corneal edema
- Keratoconus
- Corneal irregularities
- Severe dry eye
- Scleral lenses
- Other situations where direct corneal measurement is less desirable
Because the measurement does not rely on the cornea, pachymetry is not required for the Diaton measurement itself.
6. Lower Total Cost of Ownership
Hospital administrators evaluate much more than purchase price.
They consider:
- Consumables
- Inventory
- Maintenance
- Staff training
- Downtime
- Medical waste
- Workflow efficiency
Diaton tonometer helps reduce ongoing operational complexity because it requires:
- No disposable measurement tips
- No disposable probe covers
- No anesthetic drops
- No fluorescein
- No charging dock
- No routine user calibration before measurement
The result is a device designed to simplify ownership as well as clinical use.
How Diaton Fits Into the Emergency Department Workflow
Emergency medicine is built around rapid assessment and timely referral.
A typical workflow may include:
Patient presents with eye pain or visual symptoms
↓
Clinical history and examination
↓
Eye pressure assessment using Diaton
↓
If clinically indicated:
Urgent ophthalmology consultation and further evaluation
Diaton is not intended to replace comprehensive ophthalmic examination or every method of tonometry.
It provides clinicians with another practical option for obtaining an eye pressure measurement as part of the overall emergency assessment.
Patient Comfort
Patients presenting with painful eye conditions are often anxious about anything touching the eye.
Many appreciate that Diaton:
- Does not touch the cornea
- Requires no anesthetic drops
- Is quick
- Is comfortable
- Is non-invasive
A positive patient experience benefits both patients and healthcare providers.
Why Emergency Departments Choose Diaton
Emergency Department Ready™
✔ Ready to use
✔ No routine user calibration before measurement
✔ Handheld and portable
✔ Room to room
✔ Bay to bay
✔ Bedside to bedside
✔ Battery operated
✔ No charging dock
✔ No anesthetic drops
✔ No fluorescein
✔ No disposable tips
✔ No disposable probe covers
✔ Entire device easily disinfected
✔ Corneal-independent measurement
✔ Comfortable for patients
✔ Lower operating costs
✔ Supports efficient infection-control workflows
✔ Ready when every minute matters
Conclusion
Emergency departments need equipment that is practical, portable, reliable, and immediately available.
The Diaton Tonometer was designed to reduce operational friction by eliminating many of the additional steps associated with conventional eye pressure assessment—including routine user calibration before measurement, anesthetic drops, disposable tips, charging requirements, and direct corneal contact.
For emergency physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and procurement teams, the value extends beyond measuring intraocular pressure.
It is about readiness.
It is about workflow.
It is about infection prevention.
It is about bringing the device to the patient—from room to room, bay to bay, and bedside to bedside.
Diaton®
Beyond the Cornea™
Emergency Department Ready™
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What tonometer is best for emergency departments?
There is no single tonometer that is best for every clinical situation. Emergency departments often prioritize portability, speed, ease of disinfection, and workflow efficiency. The Diaton Tonometer is designed for rapid intraocular pressure (IOP) assessment through the eyelid and sclera without corneal contact, anesthetic drops, disposable probe covers, or routine calibration before measurement, making it well suited for many emergency and urgent care settings.
How is eye pressure measured in the emergency room?
Emergency physicians may measure intraocular pressure using handheld tonometers when elevated eye pressure is suspected. The choice of device depends on the clinical setting, available equipment, and patient condition. Diaton measures through the eyelid over the sclera, while many other handheld devices require corneal contact, anesthetic drops, and disposable tips.
Can glaucoma be detected in the emergency department?
An emergency department cannot diagnose glaucoma based on a single pressure measurement alone. However, measuring intraocular pressure is an important part of evaluating patients with severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, vomiting, or a red eye. Elevated IOP may indicate an ocular emergency such as acute angle-closure glaucoma and prompt urgent ophthalmology consultation.
What causes sudden eye pain with high eye pressure?
One of the most important causes is acute angle-closure glaucoma, a true ophthalmic emergency. Symptoms may include severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, vomiting, and a red eye. Rapid assessment of intraocular pressure helps clinicians determine whether urgent ophthalmology evaluation is needed.
Why is eye pressure important in emergency medicine?
Measuring intraocular pressure can help emergency clinicians identify patients who may require urgent ophthalmic evaluation. While IOP is only one component of the overall clinical assessment, elevated pressure combined with symptoms may indicate serious conditions requiring immediate attention.
Does Diaton require anesthetic eye drops?
No. Because Diaton measures through the eyelid rather than directly contacting the cornea, topical anesthetic drops are generally not required for measurement.
Does Diaton require disposable probe covers or tips?
No. Diaton does not require disposable probe covers or plastic tips for routine use. This may simplify inventory management and reduce ongoing consumable costs.
Can Diaton be disinfected between patients?
Yes. The entire device can be disinfected using appropriate alcohol-based disinfecting wipes according to the manufacturer’s instructions and institutional infection prevention protocols. Since there are no disposable probe covers to replace, the cleaning process is straightforward and supports efficient workflow.
Does Diaton require routine calibration before each use?
No. Unlike some handheld tonometers that require routine user calibration before measurements, Diaton is designed to be ready for use without a calibration procedure before each patient, helping reduce delays during emergency care.
Can Diaton be used at the bedside?
Yes. Diaton is handheld, battery operated, and portable, allowing clinicians to move easily from room to room, bay to bay, or bedside to bedside without requiring a slit lamp or tabletop equipment.
Is Diaton intended to replace Goldmann applanation tonometry?
No. Goldmann applanation tonometry remains an important reference method in ophthalmology. Diaton is intended to provide an alternative approach for situations where corneal contact may be less practical or desirable, including emergency departments, urgent care, bedside examinations, patients with corneal pathology, post-refractive surgery, scleral lens wearers, and infection-control-sensitive environments. Measurement results should always be interpreted within the overall clinical context.
Why do hospitals choose portable handheld tonometers?
Hospitals often value devices that are immediately available, portable, easy to disinfect, and simple to integrate into busy clinical workflows. Handheld tonometers allow eye pressure assessment to be performed wherever the patient is located, reducing the need to transport patients or specialized equipment.
Learn more about Diaton Tonometer:
- Diaton product page
- 100 Questions and Answers on Diaton
- How to use the Diaton Tonometer technique
- Diaton in post-LASIK / corneal pathology
- Diaton in emergency medicine / broader screening environments
- Glaucoma screening / glaucoma awareness
Learn more about – www.TonometerDiaton.com
Contact Team Diaton via Phone: 1-877-342-8667
Topics covered:
Emergency Department Eye Pressure Assessment Emergency Room Tonometer Hospital Tonometer Portable Tonometer Handheld Tonometer Corneal-Independent Tonometry Transpalpebral Tonometry Eye Pressure Measurement Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma Emergency Eye Pain Glaucoma Screening Hospital Eye Pressure Device Urgent Care Tonometer Infection Prevention Medical Device Disinfection Diaton Tonometer Emergency Department Eye Pressure Measurement Emergency Department Glaucoma Screening Emergency Room Tonometer ER Tonometer Eye Pressure Device for Emergency Department Handheld Tonometer Portable Tonometer Bedside Eye Pressure Measurement Emergency Eye Pressure Test Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma Emergency Eye Pressure Assessment in the Emergency Department Hospital Tonometer Urgent Care Tonometer Infection Prevention Ophthalmology Corneal Independent Tonometer Transpalpebral Tonometer Through-the-Eyelid Tonometer No Contact Tonometer for Hospitals Diaton Tonometer
