What is Ocular Hypertension? – Part 2 of 8

What is Ocular Hypertension? – Part 2 of 8

Ocular hypertension is the presence of an elevated intraocular pressure. But in this case, it has usually no optic nerve damage or visual field loss. And so, normally, patients have an intraocular pressure between 10 mm Hg and 21 mm Hg. And so if it’s anything higher than that and we don’t see any sort of optic nerve damage, then we would term this, ocular hypertension.

Causes of Ocular Hypertension

The eyes continuously produce a fluid called aqueous humor, which gives nutrition to the eyes and maintains optimum pressure on them. The fluid must be drained from the eyes through proper channels. When the channels do not function properly, the result is buildup of a higher than normal pressure inside the eyes due to blockage of fluid leading to Ocular Hypertension or OHT. If the pressure damages optic nerves, the result is glaucoma.

Symptoms of Ocular Hypertension

Most of the time, ocular hypertension does not exhibit any symptoms, which makes it impossible for patients to notice the condition. An ophthalmologist can easily identify cases of ocular hypertension during routine checkup by measuring the intraocular pressure using a device called tonometer. If the pressure measured during routine checkup is higher than 21mm Hg, twice, it indicates ocular hypertension, especially if the patient is at risk of developing ocular hypertension.

Who is at Risk for Ocular Hypertension?

Ocular hypertension may occur to anyone but some factors put some people at greater risk. The factors include:

• A family history or Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension
• High blood pressure or diabetes
• African-Americans and Hispanics
• People with Myopia
• Long-term ingestion of Steroid Medicines
• An eye injury
• Pigment Dispersion Syndrome

When to Consult Doctor

If you experience symptoms such as pain, blurred vision, halos, or have had high intraocular pressure in a recent visit to the eye doctor, you need to immediately consult your doctor so that they can start a proper treatment course to minimize the damage due to the conditions and prevent it from worsening.

Consult Today

Patients with ocular hypertension do not exhibit any symptoms, which is why it is very difficult to diagnose. The only way to diagnose the condition on time is to get regular visits to an eye doctor. If you are at risk for ocular hypertension or have a family history of glaucoma, you must periodically consult an experienced ophthalmologist. When looking for a specialist in and around Texas, contact Texas Eye and Cataract. Our seasoned eye surgeons specialize in treating a variety of eye conditions including ocular hypertension, glaucoma, and cataract. To get answers to any questions about glaucoma or ocular hypertension, or to book an appointment, call 469-505-2020 or email info@teceyecare.com.

‍