▲ (from left) Experiment plan and a photograph of animal eye experiment

Hanyang University professor teams of Professor Lee Won-jun of Department of Medicine and Park Jun-hong of School of Mechanical Engineering created a new method of tonometry through co-research.

The original method caused great repulsion from patients since it required eye anesthesia and direct contact of measuring equipment on the cornea, or by adding air pressure. The co-research team used a 'shaker' that causes vibration to the eye and created a new method of tonometry.

The thesis' title is 'A pilot study for intraocular pressure measurements based on vibroacoustic parameters'. The co-research team measured the difference in vibration response through animal testing, adding vibration to the eyeball of animals. As a result, they defined that there is great relevance in regards to intraocular pressure.

The co-research team has been highly praised for contributing to the diagnosis of glaucoma by presenting a new tonometry method through this research. Glaucoma is a disease that causes disorders in the function of the optic nerve when the optic nerve is pressed and does not receive not enough blood supply. Measuring the intraocular pressure is necessary for an early diagnosis of glaucoma.

Professor Lee explained that this research is a new attempt to define the relationship between vibration and intraocular pressure in terms of a glaucoma diagnosis, adding "it suggested a new possibility in the tonometry area." "It is anticipated that by using the new vibration response difference, this tonometry method system would be developed into a medical device in the future", Professor Park also explained.

The research thesis has been published in the January edition of Scientific Reports, which is the sister magazine of Nature.