Trouble

I recently suffered an ocular rupter to the iris caused by an exploding light bulb.
The emergency dept at the hospital refered me to an optometrist for evaluation.
During the initial exam it was determined that indeed the eye was ruptered and leaking with the possibility of glass in the eye. The optometrist then decided he wanted to measure the pressure in the eye so he performed a puff of air tonometry test to the open eye (possibly containing glass) immediately I lost all vision in that eye due to an airbubble being forced under the lense. I was airlifted to Vancouver where they performed surgery to clean and suture the eye. The problem I am having now is constant headaches and visual disturbances I have been diagnosed with posterior vitrious detachment and am wondering if any damage could have resulted from the tonometry test on the ruptered eye ( the interocular pressure according to the test was 4mm/hg) and if this test was perhaps an error on the part of the optometrist?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

An optometrist is not a physician, does not have an MD, is not allowed by law to operate on people. You should have seen an Eye MD ophthalmologist.  With an open globe air tonometry should likely not have been done and the immediate worsening of the vision after it was done suggests a cause and effect.

Be sure you are under the care of an Eye MD.  Protect your good eye from disease and injury. Were glasses of polycarbonate to protect both eyes even if you do not need a prescription in them.

JCH MD