Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

The calibration of the application tonometer is checked by attaching a measured weight to the tonometer balancing arm at specific points, typically at 0, 2, and 6 grams. This method ensures that the tonometer is providing accurate intraocular pressure readings by verifying that the device responds correctly to known weights. When the measured weights are applied, the tonometer should ideally give consistent and expected readings.

This procedure is essential because it helps maintain the accuracy of the device in clinical settings, ensuring that intraocular pressure assessments are reliable. Compared to other methods, attaching a measured weight is a direct and quantifiable approach to guarantee the tonometer's precision in measurement, as opposed to visual inspections or using tools like rulers or stopwatches, which would not provide reliable calibration data for this specific type of equipment.