Ocular Hypertension results when the intraocular pressure is in the higher than normal range, this means the front of the eye is not draining fluid efficiently, this leads to a build up of eye pressure. The term Ocular Hypertension is used to distinguish patients with eye pressure above the normal range from patients who are currently suffering from Glaucoma. Ocular Hypertension typically has no signs of symptoms, but patients with this condition are at increased risk of developing glaucoma. In patients with Ocular Hypertension, the optic nerve appears normal and there is no vision loss, it is important that these patients have regular comprehensive eye examinations in order to be monitored for glaucoma, patients with Ocular Hypertension are known as "glaucoma suspects".
A clear liquid called aqueous humor flows within the front of the eye, the eye continuously produces aqueous humor, an equal amount of aqueous humor flows out of the eye, this exchange maintains a healthy pressure within the eye. If aqueous humor does not flow out of the eye properly, eye pressure builds up and leads to ocular hypertension. If this high pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, it results in glaucoma, glaucoma is a chronic condition which causes loss of vision. Eye pressure is measured using an instrument called a Tonometer which is pictured below.
Ocular Hypertension can occur in patients of all ages, it is more common in patients who have a family history of elevated eye pressure or glaucoma, patients over the age of 40, patients who are taking long-term steroid medications, patients who have had previous eye injuries or surgery, diabetic patients or those with high blood pressure, african or hispanic patients, patients with underlying eye conditions such as pigment dispersion syndrome or pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
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