Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesNo SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentRisks and ComplicationsCan It Be Reversed?When to See an Eye Doctor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
No Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Risks and Complications
Can It Be Reversed?
When to See an Eye Doctor
If you have ocular hypertension, the pressure inside your eye is above normal. Pressure builds because the eye’s fluid, known as the aqueous humor, doesn’t drain properly.
Ocular hypertension typically causes no noticeable symptoms or vision loss.However, if the condition is not treated, damage to the ocular nerve that relays signals from the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye to the brain can occur.
High intraocular pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma, in which high eye pressure leads to damage to the ocular nerve and related vision loss. Since ocular hypertension usually has no signs, it’s particularly important to have your eyes regularly examined to detect it as early as possible.
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Causes of Ocular Hypertension
The following characteristics can increase risk for developing ocular hypertension:
Know Your Eye PressureThe normal range forintraocular pressureis 10 to 20 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Ocular hypertension is considered to be higher than 21 mm Hg.Eye pressure below 10 mm Hg, is considered hypotony. However, this may not be problematic until it is below 5 mm Hg.
Know Your Eye Pressure
The normal range forintraocular pressureis 10 to 20 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Ocular hypertension is considered to be higher than 21 mm Hg.Eye pressure below 10 mm Hg, is considered hypotony. However, this may not be problematic until it is below 5 mm Hg.
Glaucoma Links and Differences
Studies show that people with high ocular pressure may be at increased risk for developingglaucoma, which can lead to vision loss. Increased ocular pressure can eventually damage the ocular nerve. However, the amount of pressure your ocular nerve can withstand varies; not everyone with ocular hypertension develops glaucoma.
Asymptomatic Traits
One problem with ocular hypertension is that it usually has no symptoms, leading those with this condition to believe their eyes are healthy. The first clue that this is not the case can occur after they have developed glaucoma and some vision loss.
How to Get Eye Pressure Diagnosed
It’s important to get regular eye exams to check your eye pressure. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist (eye specialists) will perform atonometrytest to determine if you have elevated eye pressure.
In most cases, a technique known as applanation is used. With this approach, the eye is first numbed, then a small probe touches the eye’s surface to assess the pressure. Stay relaxed to get an accurate reading.
Other methods of tonometry include theair puff test (noncontact tonometry), iCare rebound tonometry, or TonoPen. These may be used as screening tests.
Treatment to Reduce Eye Pressure
Lowering eye pressure is important to help protect the optic nerve. Medications applied as eye drops can work in two different ways. The first is to make it easier for fluid to move through the eye.
Eye drops that are included in this group are:
The second type of eye drop medication reduces the amount of fluid created in the eye to lower pressure. These fall into the following three categories:
If you have ocular hypertension, you may not notice any issues, but you are at risk of developing glaucoma. With glaucoma comes the risk of damage to the ocular nerve and related vision loss. The first clue that something is amiss can be the development of a permanent blind spot.
In addition, if your ocular hypertension leads to what’s known as closed-angle glaucoma, in which the drainage angle becomes completely blocked, this is an eye emergency. Complications can include:
If these symptoms are not immediately treated, they can lead to sudden blindness. If you suspect you have this condition, it should be immediately checked.
Can you Reverse Eye Hypertension?
If you have been diagnosed with ocular hypertension, visiting your eye specialist regularly is essential. Even if you are not receiving treatment, see them as often as they recommend.
Also, any pain or pressure behind your eyes can be a sign that you have developed acute angle-closure glaucoma. It should immediately be checked out.
Summary
It is possible to have ocular hypertension and not know that you have it. With this condition, the eye pressure is raised but has not yet affected the ocular nerve. Over time, however, you can go on to develop glaucoma and vision loss. It is essential to get regular checkups to ensure your eye pressure is not too high.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ocular hypertension?Yale Medicine.Ocular hypertension.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Hypotony.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma and eye pressure.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is glaucoma? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.BrightFocus Foundation.The glaucoma eye exam. 6 common tests.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma medicines.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Symptoms of glaucoma.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ocular hypertension?Yale Medicine.Ocular hypertension.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Hypotony.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma and eye pressure.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is glaucoma? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.BrightFocus Foundation.The glaucoma eye exam. 6 common tests.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma medicines.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Symptoms of glaucoma.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ocular hypertension?Yale Medicine.Ocular hypertension.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Hypotony.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma and eye pressure.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is glaucoma? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.BrightFocus Foundation.The glaucoma eye exam. 6 common tests.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma medicines.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Symptoms of glaucoma.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is ocular hypertension?
Yale Medicine.Ocular hypertension.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure.
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Hypotony.
National Eye Institute.Glaucoma and eye pressure.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is glaucoma? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.
BrightFocus Foundation.The glaucoma eye exam. 6 common tests.
National Eye Institute.Glaucoma medicines.
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Symptoms of glaucoma.
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