Application tonometry is a procedure used to measure intraocular pressure by what method?

Application tonometry is utilized to measure intraocular pressure by flattening a small area of the central cornea. This method relies on the principle that the force required to flatten a specific area of the cornea correlates with the pressure inside the eye. When the cornea is flattened, a tonometer measures the amount of force applied, allowing for the calculation of intraocular pressure.

This technique is effective because the cornea is a flexible structure, and its response to the applied force reflects the pressure within the eye. It is widely regarded as a standard method in ophthalmic practice due to its reliability and simplicity in assessing the risk of conditions such as glaucoma. The other methods mentioned do not accurately describe the process involved in application tonometry. For instance, injecting fluid into the eye or applying pressure with a finger would not yield reliable measurements of intraocular pressure, and using lasers involves more advanced techniques like non-contact tonometry, which differ from the application tonometry approach.