Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension is a condition in which fluid pressure inside the eye is higher than normal,  but at the same time the optic nerve is normal and there is no visual field loss.

An elevated intraocular pressure is the most important risk factor for another condition: glaucoma. If your ocular pressure is between 10 mmHg and 21 mmHg, then that is considered normal. This means that if you have ocular hypertension, there is a great possibility that you will develop glaucoma, too.

How To Detect It

You should visit your ophthalmologist to be evaluated and find out if you actually suffer from this eye condition or if you have any other condition as  consequence of this. During your visit, your physician will ask the following:

- Your past ocular history. It is important to know if you have had  eye pain, eye redness, headaches, any ocular disease in the past, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, any ocular surgery like (including a  refractive procedure, ocular trauma, or a surgery, just to mention a few.

- Any medication you are taking.

Some Risk Factors

- Age (Younger people can also suffer from high intraocular pressure, too)

- Family history of glaucoma

- History of elevated intraocular pressure

- Visual field loss, even from glaucoma

- Being an African American descent

- Obesity

- Alcohol

- Smoking

- History of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headaches (migraine)

- Cardiovascular disease

Hypertension and Diabetes

Some statistics in the United States suggest that:

• Glaucoma and macular degeneration are the main causes of irreversible blindness.

• Only 50% of people having glaucoma know they have the condition.

• Between 4 to 10% of people over 40 years will have intraocular pressure, and they will not feel any symptoms.

• Some patients can have an increase of intraocular pressure if they are lying down, even if they have a normal ocular pressure when they are standing or sitting.

Even if you don't feel any symptoms, it is very important to have your ocular pressure checked to be sure that everything is fine. Remember, prevention is first, don't you think? 

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