Well, I am feeling like a complete dolt. After hearing how easy it is to use the Icare, I have totally failed at my first four tries.
The Icare becomes easy. I do not recall anybody I have spoken being able to take a good measurement their very first try. Usually the entire first day's IOP measurements should be discarded. I don't consider someone proficient at using an Icare until they have practiced every day for a couple months. That's my opinion. Some may feel they are proficient much sooner than that. But nobody should feel bad if they cannot get good measurements in the first hour. I suggest you should not be discouraged even if it takes you several weeks or months to be comfortable with your Icare.
What I should have said above is: The Icare becomes easy with a lot of practice.
I think I am just nervous...
Everyone is. It's the body's natural reaction to having something close to your eye. You get used to it. Some people require weeks or even a couple months until they are 100% relaxed when taking a measurement with the Icare. I have always taken exception with the Icare manufacturer's protrayal of the process of using the Icare as "not having a learning curve" or "the patient can become proficient in less than 15 minutes." Those statements are misleading.
but perhaps I will have to wait until I go to the eye doc and have them train me on the way to do this.
I do not recommend waiting for this. Sure, I gave this advice in a recent post:
If you own an Icare, and if your doctor is an expert in using the Icare, there is another valid reason for taking your Icare into your doctor's office: ask your doctor to check your measurement technique. Are you contacting the center of your pupil at a perpendicular angle? If not, your doctor should be able to coach you.
However, what I recommend today is that you simply keep practicing. Practice a lot, but don't call yourself bad names or let yourself feel frustrated. Give yourself the time you need to master this.
If you have a friend who can watch you practice, ask them to watch the Icare training videos (so they understand where the probe needs to touch your eye and what angles are acceptable).
You can also use your phone to video record yourself. Zoom in. Then you can see everything you need to see in order to coach yourself.
Also, you can reach out to FitEyes and Enlivened.com for personal coaching.
