Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension is a serious condition, although it doesn’t cause symptoms, and it can lead to severe complications.

Ocular hypertension

The eyes make a clear fluid called aqueous humor continuously, which flows in front of the eye and then goes out of it. If this fluid accumulates and doesn’t leave the eye as it should, it causes ocular hypertension.

Causes and risk factors of ocular hypertension

• Ocular hypertension occurs if the eye makes excessive amounts of the aqueous humor or if the drainage path has a problem or is blocked due to substances blocking the drainage angle, eye cancer, or eye damage.
• The risk of high IOP increases due to the following factors: high blood pressure, hypotension, diabetes, a cornea with a thinner center, bleeding at the head of the optic nerve, extreme nearsightedness, pigment dispersion syndrome, previous eye injury or surgery, stress, and being older than 40 years old.

Symptoms of ocular hypertension

• Ocular hypertension in general doesn’t cause symptoms and it’s discovered during routine eye exams.
• Some people might feel eye pain when moving or touching the eyes.
• If left unmanaged, ocular hypertension could lead to glaucoma.

Diagnosis of ocular hypertension

• Eye exam.
• Examining the eye pressure, the drainage system, the cornea, and the optic nerve.

Treatment of ocular hypertension

• Eye drops and medications.
• You can reduce the risk of developing ocular hypertension by doing regular eye exams and avoiding smoking.