During a routine eye exam, a patient mentions experiencing occasional blurry vision and halos around lights. The medical assistant prepares to measure the patient's intraocular pressure (IOP) using tonometry. Which of the following steps is essential to perform before taking the IOP measurement to ensure the patient's safety and accuracy of the test results?
Ask the patient to complete a visual acuity test to gauge the level of blurriness they are experiencing.
Assess for allergies related to the tonometry equipment to prevent hypersensitivity reactions.
Dilate the patient's pupils to ensure a clear pathway for the tonometry device.
Instill anesthetic eye drops into the patient's eyes to numb the surface before measurement.