Eye pressure, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP), is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Used as a measurement for diagnosing eye disease, periodic measurement of your IOP is essential for your eye health. For example, ocular hypertension (increased IOP) is a risk factor forglaucomawith the goal of treatment to lower the pressure.
Verywell / Daniel Fishel
What is Normal Eye Pressure?
Intraocular pressure (IOP), is measurement of the fluid pressure inside the eye that can help diagnosis current eye disorders and give you insight into your eye health. Pressure from aqueous humor fluid drains from the eye and new fluid replaces it as needed. It creates a homeostatic balance that regulates eye pressure.
IOP is not a fixed number but fluctuates in a person but also from person to person. It is impossible to compare your IOP to someone else. Undergoingroutine eye examsis crucial to your eye health. This includes a full examination includingtonometry, the diagnostic test for measuring IOP.
Some individual fluctuations are normal but also can be a sign of worsening progressive eye disease. Abnormal intraocular eye pressure can be indicative of a serious eye problem.
Ocular hypertension(increased IOP) can be a warning sign of progressive glaucoma and possibly blindness. A decrease in IOP can be an indicator for the progressivedetachment of the retinaand choroid.Furthermore, differences in the eye pressure between eyes can be a sign of iritis or retinal detachment.
How Is It Measured?
Eye pressure is generally measured during routine or emergency eye exams; however, it is also done after trauma to the eyes in an emergency room or primary care doctor’s office.
The most common type of tonometry test is called the Goldmann applanation tonometry test. Long considered the gold standard of ocular pressure tests it involves the use of a flat-tipped probe that is gently pressed against the surface of your eye.
Other non-contact methods include Tono-Pen and iCare tonometry, which are performed with handheld instruments. Non-contact tonometry (or “air puff” tonometry) uses a puff of air to slightly flatten the cornea, but it is considered less accurate.
Interestingly, there is no single correct eye pressure as each individual’s eye pressure is different. For this reason, the range for healthy eye pressure is between 10 and 21 mmHg.Ocular pressure above and below this range can cause vision changes.
Most recently, the FDA approved the use of the Diaton Tonometer for measuring IOP through the eyelid and sclera. The Diaton is a pen-like device with a stainless steel tip that allows the user to touch the lid in the area above the corneal margin, at the sclera. This device is very important for patients that are unable to open their eyes and/or have had previous surgery to their eyes.
Eye Pressure and Glaucoma
There are three main types of glaucoma including:
While there is no definitive cause of glaucoma, there is a significant correlation between high ocular pressure and glaucoma. That being said, it does not cause glaucoma but is a significant risk factor.
Over time, high pressure causes the nerve fibers in the retina to die, resulting in decreased vision. Significant vision loss and blindness are extremely common if glaucoma is left untreated.
Pigment Dispersion Syndrome
Treatment for Eye Pressure
Medications
Medications used to normalize eye pressure have side effects and interact with other medications. For this reason, it is important to take all medication as prescribed and discuss all current medications, vitamins, and supplements with your healthcare provider.
The most common eye drop medications used to normalize eye pressure are:
Laser Treatment
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which is an alternative first-line treatment, may be used if eye drop medication is not working to control eye pressure. This laser treatment helps fluid drain more easily from the front part of the eye, which lowers IOP. The effects of SLT can last between one to five years, or more.
Surgery
Glaucoma surgeryis also a common option for these patients. This option helps normalize IOP but does not prevent it from rising again. Other options include iDose TR (travoprost). The iDose TR is a surgical implant that continuously releases medication. It is FDA-approved for the reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT).
Eye surgery should not be taken lightly and should only be considered after thoughtful consideration and open discussion with a qualified eye surgeon.
Complementary Therapies
While non-pharmacologic options will not normalize eye pressure on their own, they are complementary options. Currently, these options are not FDA approved for the treatment of high eye pressure and should only be done after consultation with your healthcare provider.
Complementary therapies should never be used in the replacement of prescribed medications. These options include:
15 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.Kim JH, Caprioli J.Intraocular pressure fluctuation: Is it important?.Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research, 2018;13(2),170–174. doi:10.4103/jovr.jovr_35_18Machiele R, Motlagh M, Patel BC.Intraocular pressure. StatPearls.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure testing.Aziz K, Friedman DS.Tonometers-which one should I use?Eye(Lond). 2018;32(5):931-937. doi:10.1038/s41433-018-0040-4American Academy of Ophthalmology.IOP and tonometry.Emergency Physicians Monthly.A game changer for measuring intraocular pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma facts and stats.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma.Glaucoma Research Institute.High eye pressure and glaucoma.Harasymowycz P, Birt C, Gooi P, Heckler L, Hutnik C, Jinapriya D, Shuba L, Yan D, Day R.Medical management of glaucoma in the 21st Century from a Canadian perspective.J Ophthalmol. 2016;2016:6509809. doi:10.1155/2016/6509809Glaucoma Research Foundation.Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: 10 Commonly Asked Questions.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Alternative medicine.Hysi PG, Khawaja AP, Menni C, et al.Ascorbic acid metabolites are involved in intraocular pressure control in the general population.Redox Biol. 2019;20:349-353. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2018.10.004Pandey R, Samuel AJ, Aranha VP, Pandey A, Narkeesh K.Non-pharmacological therapies for primary open angle glaucoma: A quasi-experimental pilot study.Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, 2017;31(2),95–98. doi:10.1016/j.sjopt.2017.03.001Missouri Eye Institute.How do I lower my intraocular eye pressure.
15 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.Kim JH, Caprioli J.Intraocular pressure fluctuation: Is it important?.Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research, 2018;13(2),170–174. doi:10.4103/jovr.jovr_35_18Machiele R, Motlagh M, Patel BC.Intraocular pressure. StatPearls.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure testing.Aziz K, Friedman DS.Tonometers-which one should I use?Eye(Lond). 2018;32(5):931-937. doi:10.1038/s41433-018-0040-4American Academy of Ophthalmology.IOP and tonometry.Emergency Physicians Monthly.A game changer for measuring intraocular pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma facts and stats.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma.Glaucoma Research Institute.High eye pressure and glaucoma.Harasymowycz P, Birt C, Gooi P, Heckler L, Hutnik C, Jinapriya D, Shuba L, Yan D, Day R.Medical management of glaucoma in the 21st Century from a Canadian perspective.J Ophthalmol. 2016;2016:6509809. doi:10.1155/2016/6509809Glaucoma Research Foundation.Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: 10 Commonly Asked Questions.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Alternative medicine.Hysi PG, Khawaja AP, Menni C, et al.Ascorbic acid metabolites are involved in intraocular pressure control in the general population.Redox Biol. 2019;20:349-353. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2018.10.004Pandey R, Samuel AJ, Aranha VP, Pandey A, Narkeesh K.Non-pharmacological therapies for primary open angle glaucoma: A quasi-experimental pilot study.Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, 2017;31(2),95–98. doi:10.1016/j.sjopt.2017.03.001Missouri Eye Institute.How do I lower my intraocular eye pressure.
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.
Kim JH, Caprioli J.Intraocular pressure fluctuation: Is it important?.Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research, 2018;13(2),170–174. doi:10.4103/jovr.jovr_35_18Machiele R, Motlagh M, Patel BC.Intraocular pressure. StatPearls.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure testing.Aziz K, Friedman DS.Tonometers-which one should I use?Eye(Lond). 2018;32(5):931-937. doi:10.1038/s41433-018-0040-4American Academy of Ophthalmology.IOP and tonometry.Emergency Physicians Monthly.A game changer for measuring intraocular pressure.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma facts and stats.National Eye Institute.Glaucoma.Glaucoma Research Institute.High eye pressure and glaucoma.Harasymowycz P, Birt C, Gooi P, Heckler L, Hutnik C, Jinapriya D, Shuba L, Yan D, Day R.Medical management of glaucoma in the 21st Century from a Canadian perspective.J Ophthalmol. 2016;2016:6509809. doi:10.1155/2016/6509809Glaucoma Research Foundation.Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: 10 Commonly Asked Questions.Glaucoma Research Foundation.Alternative medicine.Hysi PG, Khawaja AP, Menni C, et al.Ascorbic acid metabolites are involved in intraocular pressure control in the general population.Redox Biol. 2019;20:349-353. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2018.10.004Pandey R, Samuel AJ, Aranha VP, Pandey A, Narkeesh K.Non-pharmacological therapies for primary open angle glaucoma: A quasi-experimental pilot study.Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, 2017;31(2),95–98. doi:10.1016/j.sjopt.2017.03.001Missouri Eye Institute.How do I lower my intraocular eye pressure.
Kim JH, Caprioli J.Intraocular pressure fluctuation: Is it important?.Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research, 2018;13(2),170–174. doi:10.4103/jovr.jovr_35_18
Machiele R, Motlagh M, Patel BC.Intraocular pressure. StatPearls.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eye pressure testing.
Aziz K, Friedman DS.Tonometers-which one should I use?Eye(Lond). 2018;32(5):931-937. doi:10.1038/s41433-018-0040-4
American Academy of Ophthalmology.IOP and tonometry.
Emergency Physicians Monthly.A game changer for measuring intraocular pressure.
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Glaucoma facts and stats.
National Eye Institute.Glaucoma.
Glaucoma Research Institute.High eye pressure and glaucoma.
Harasymowycz P, Birt C, Gooi P, Heckler L, Hutnik C, Jinapriya D, Shuba L, Yan D, Day R.Medical management of glaucoma in the 21st Century from a Canadian perspective.J Ophthalmol. 2016;2016:6509809. doi:10.1155/2016/6509809
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: 10 Commonly Asked Questions.
Glaucoma Research Foundation.Alternative medicine.
Hysi PG, Khawaja AP, Menni C, et al.Ascorbic acid metabolites are involved in intraocular pressure control in the general population.Redox Biol. 2019;20:349-353. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2018.10.004
Pandey R, Samuel AJ, Aranha VP, Pandey A, Narkeesh K.Non-pharmacological therapies for primary open angle glaucoma: A quasi-experimental pilot study.Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, 2017;31(2),95–98. doi:10.1016/j.sjopt.2017.03.001
Missouri Eye Institute.How do I lower my intraocular eye pressure.
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