Macclesfield District General Hospital - Pneumotonometer

Macclesfield's Opthalmology Department treats on average 100 children each year from across Cheshire. When treating adults, one of the basic tests performed on all patients is to test the eye pressure. At present, the hospital does not have the equipment required to perform the same test on children, because the test must be more sensitive and accurate. The result is that children are sent to either Manchester or Liverpool where the procedure must be performed under anaesthetic.

The paediatric clinic at Macclesfield is a regional specialist clinic, where children are referred from other hospitals in the region when suffering from specific congenital eye abnormalities. Currently no equipment is available for measuring eye pressure in a child-friendly way. Pneumotonometry is the preferred method of measuring eye pressure as it is non-contact, quick, painless and accurate.

Changes in eye pressure indicate that the child could have glaucoma, and also any unwanted side effects of steroid eye drops being used for external eye diseases. Quick and accurate diagnosis can avoid longer term problems.

We have been asked to provide Puls-Air 5000 pneumotonometer to allow the Opthalmologist to perform the eye pressure check at Macclesfield. The benefit of this is that it avoids unnecessary operations, and allows immediate diagnosis.

The equipment costs £5,000.