Ocular hypertension is an increase in the pressure in your eyes
that is above the range considered normal with no detectable changes in vision
or damage to the structure of your eyes. The term is used to distinguish people
with elevated pressure from those with glaucoma, a serious eye disease that
causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.
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 inner structures of your eyes to assess your overall eye health.
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 optometric examinations are essential to your overall eye
health.
There is no cure for ocular hypertension, however, careful monitoring and
treatment, when indicated, can decrease the risk of damage to your eyes.
