Apparatus and method for monitoring intraocular and blood pressure by non-contact contour measurement

The present invention describes apparatus and methods for long-term, repeatable measurement of pressure in vessels by measuring distortion signatures of the external surfaces of a vessel through calibration against a known and verifiable reference standard. It is particularly useful for measuring intraocular pressure, pressure in blood vessels and other physiological pressures. It is also adaptable for measuring pressure changes in virtually any vessel whose external surface is deformable such that pressure changes are transduced to the external surface of the confining vessel, as exemplified by process piping.