Ocular hypertension is an increase in the internal pressure of your eyes above the range considered normal, with no detectable changes in vision or damage to the optic nerve. The term is used to distinguish people with glaucoma, a serious eye disease, from those who just have elevated eye pressure. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss, and is usually associated with elevated eye pressure.
Ocular hypertension can occur in people of all ages, but it occurs more frequently in African Americans, those over age 40 and those with family histories of ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma. It is also more common in those who are very nearsighted or who have diabetes.
Ocular hypertension has no noticeable signs or symptoms. Your doctor of optometry can check the pressure in your eyes with an instrument called a tonometer and can examine the optic nerve for signs of damage that elevated eye pressure may cause.
Not all people with ocular hypertension will develop glaucoma. However, there is an increased risk of glaucoma among those with ocular hypertension, so regular comprehensive eye examinations by your Doctor of Optometry are essential to your overall eye health.
There is no cure for ocular hypertension, however, careful monitoring and treatment, when indicated, can dramatically decrease the risk of damage to your eyes.
