Our expert at Clear Eye Care will explain that ocular hypertension usually refers to any situation in which the pressure inside your eye, called intraocular pressure, is higher than normal. Using an instrument called a tonometer, the pressure inside your eye is measured. Your eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal eye pressure ranges from 10-21 mm Hg. Ocular hypertension is where your eye pressure is greater than 21 mm Hg. At Clear Eye Care, we are aware that the definition has changed over the years, but ocular hypertension is commonly defined as a condition where an intraocular pressure of greater than 21 mm Hg is measured in one or both of your eyes, on two or more occasions. To determine other possible causes for your high eye pressure, our eye doctor evaluates whether your drainage system, known as the "angle", is open or closed. The angle can be seen using a technique called gonioscopy. This specialized technique uses a special contact lens to examine the drainage channels in your eyes, to see if they are open, narrowed, or closed. If no signs of any ocular disease are present it is possible that some other eye diseases can increase the pressure inside your eye. Once ocular hypertension has been diagnosed, the appropriate
eye hypertension treatment in Coppell will be determined.
Our eye doctor knows not to consider ocular hypertension a disease on its own. Instead, ocular hypertension is actually a term we use to describe those patients we feel need to observe more closely for the onset of glaucoma. These “glaucoma suspects” are patients that we are concerned may have, or may develop, glaucoma due to the elevated pressure inside their eyes. Increased intraocular pressure may be a result from other eye conditions, however, ocular hypertension mainly refers to increased intraocular pressure, without any optic nerve damage or loss of vision. Elevated intraocular pressure is a concern in our patients with ocular hypertension because it’s one of the main risk factors for glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when increased intraocular pressure, vision loss, and optic nerve damage are present. Approximately 2.5 million people in the United States have glaucoma and more than 130,000 are legally blind because of the disease. It is these very facts that emphasize the need to not only identify, but closely monitor our patients who are at risk of developing glaucoma. Particularly those patients with ocular hypertension, appropriate
eye hypertension treatment in Coppell is crucial.
Optometrist in Coppell
220 South Denton Tap Road
Suite 204
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 483-0961
By Clear Eye Care
October 30, 2014
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