Device for monitoring intraocular and blood pressure

An apparatus and method is provided for monitoring internal pressure of a physiological vessel using non-contact contour measurement techniques. A pressure measuring system includes a light or acoustic source for impinging a beam on the vessel surface and a detector for detecting a reflected beam from the vessel surface, the system being mounted proximate to the vessel (e.g., an eye). The apparatus compares changes in vessel surface contour measurements with stored data relating changes in vessel surface contour with calibrated measurements corresponding to internal pressure of the vessel.