Tonometry screening on the medical service.

Screening for glaucoma by Schiotz tonometry was carried out for two years on a general medical service. Of the 61% of patients who were over the age of 45 years, 5.5% had pressures equal to or greater than 21 mm Hg and were referred for ophthalmologic evaluation; 44% of those referred were diagnosed as having glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. The overall prevalence of glaucoma in patients on the general medical inpatient service was 3.3%. Because of the high prevalence of glaucoma in the population surveyed, the low incidence of side-effects of tonometry, the small amount of time required to perform tonometry, and the relatively high percentage of glaucoma patients found by routine tonometry used regularly, the present experience supports the view that Schiotz tonometry is a useful procedure for the internist to perform.