Ocular hypertension

Not to be confused with Ocular hypotension.
Ocular hypertension
SpecialtyOphthalmology

Ocular hypertension is the presence of elevated fluid pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure), usually with no optic nerve damage or visual field loss.[1][2]

For most individuals, the normal range of intraocular pressure is between 10 mmHg and 21 mmHg.[3][4] Elevated intraocular pressure is an important risk factor and symptom of glaucoma. One study found that topical ocular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma.[5] Accordingly, most individuals with consistently elevated intraocular pressures of greater than 21mmHg, particularly if they have other risk factors, are treated in an effort to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.

Treatment, by lowering the intraocular pressure, may help decrease the risk of vision loss and damage to the eye from glaucoma. Treatment options include pressure-lowering 'antiglaucomatous' eye drops, surgery, and/or laser eye surgery.[6]

It is estimated that approximately 2-3% of people aged 52-89 years old have ocular hypertension of 25 mmHg and higher, and 3.5% of people 49 years and older have ocular hypertension of 21 mmHg and higher.[6]

  1. ^ "Ocular Hypertension, Glaucoma & Eye Drops" (PDF). American Academy of Ophthalmology. June 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2005.
  2. ^ "Ocular Hypertension". American Optometric Association.
  3. ^ "Tonometry". webMD.
  4. ^ "Glaucoma Overview". eMedicine. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2005-12-28.
  5. ^ Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, Johnson CA, Keltner JL, Miller JP, et al. (June 2002). "The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: a randomized trial determines that topical ocular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma". Archives of Ophthalmology. 120 (6): 701–713. doi:10.1001/archopht.120.6.701. PMID 12049574.
  6. ^ a b Clement Freiberg, Josefine; von Spreckelsen, Alexander; Kolko, Miriam; Azuara-Blanco, Augusto; Virgili, Gianni (2022-06-10). Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group (ed.). "Rho kinase inhibitor for primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022 (6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013817.pub2. PMC 9185806. PMID 35686679.