×

Click on the link below for current COVID-19 Announcements

Click Here
Close
A New Vision

4655 SW Griffith Drive #165

Beaverton, OR 97005 US

503-646-8592

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • Patient Center
    • Online Forms
  • Our Services
    • Eye & Vision Exams
    • Vision Exams For Children
    • Contact Lens Exam
    • Optomap Retinal Exams
    • Diopsys/VEP Testing
    • Readalyzer(TM)
    • InfantSEE®
  • Vision Therapy
    • Tools & Techniques
    • Vision Therapy FAQ
  • Eye Wear
    • Frame Lines
    • Lenses
    • Contact Lenses
      • Soft Contacts
      • RGP Lenses
    • Choosing the Right Frames
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Community Content
    • Common Eye Conditions
      • Age-Related
      • Cognitive and Acquired
      • Vision Impairment
      • Injury & Irritation
      • Eye Lids
      • Changes in Appearance
    • Contact Lenses
    • Eye Diseases
    • Eyeglasses
      • Eyeglass Lenses
    • Eye Symptoms
    • How the Eyes Work
      • Basic Visual Skills
    • Pediatric Vision
    • Protecting Your Eyes
    • Visual Rehabilitation
    • Vision Problems
    • What is Vision Therapy
    • Vision Therapy Programs
    • We Can Help With
      • Cataracts
      • Corneal Disorders
        • Disorders
      • Glaucoma
      • Refractive Disorders
      • Adult Strabismus
      • Retinal Disorders
    • Newsletters
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Contacts
      • Tips for Healthy Eyes
      • Conditions That Affect Vision
      • Kid's Vision
      • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
      • Medical Perspectives
  • Contact Lens Training Information
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletters >
  • What Causes Ocular Hypertension?

What Causes Ocular Hypertension?

  • Created in Newsletters

Eye doctor using tonometer on patient

Ocular Hypertension Causes and Treatments

Ocular hypertension occurs when the pressure inside your eye begins to rise. Although the increased pressure doesn't damage your eye, it could increase your risk of developing glaucoma. If you've been diagnosed with ocular hypertension, treatment may help prevent the condition from worsening.

Why Does Ocular Hypertension Occur?

Aqueous humor, a clear eye fluid, nourishes the lens inside your eye and creates pressure that helps your eyeball maintain its round shape. Although the pressure usually remains the same, slow drainage or excess fluid could increase it.

If the pressure is too high, you could develop glaucoma, a condition that occurs when high pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve. Light impulses travel from the retina at the back of your eye to the brain via the optic nerve. Once the brain receives the impulses, it converts them into recognizable images. If the optic nerve is damaged, the signals never reach the brain, resulting in partial or complete vision loss. Unfortunately, by the time you notice that something is wrong with your eyesight, it's too late to save your vision.

Who Gets Ocular Hypertension?

You may be more likely to develop ocular hypertension if you are over 40, are extremely nearsighted, or are Hispanic or African American. If family members have glaucoma or ocular hypertension, you may be more likely to develop the condition as well.

Your risk of ocular hypertension increases if you've taken steroid medications for a long time, had an eye injury or eye surgery, have high blood pressure, or diabetes. Low blood pressure and a thinner central cornea could also increase your risk, according to Bright Focus Foundation.

How Can I Tell if I Have Ocular Hypertension?

Ocular hypertension has no symptoms. In fact, you won't notice any changes in your vision if the pressure inside your eye rises. Fortunately, your optometrist can tell if your pressure is too high by performing a simple test during your annual eye exam. Your eye doctor uses an instrument called a tonometer to take an eye pressure reading. The tonometer produces a puff of air that briefly flattens your cornea, the clear tissue that covers your iris and pupil.

How Is Ocular Hypertension Treated?

An ocular hypertension diagnosis doesn't automatically mean you will require treatment or develop glaucoma. In fact, only 25 percent of people who participated in a national ocular hypertension study ever developed vision loss from glaucoma. Researchers who followed up on participants in The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study 20 years later were surprised by the results, as they expected to see much higher rates of vision loss.

You will need to visit your optometrist more often for checkups if you have ocular hypertension. Regular follow-up visits help your eye doctor spot the early signs of glaucoma and offer treatment before the condition can damage your optic nerve and destroy your vision.

If you are eventually diagnosed with glaucoma, your eye doctor may recommend daily prescription eye drops that lower pressure. If blocked drainage channels in your eye are the reason for the pressure increase, you may need a surgical procedure to improve drainage.

Regular eye examinations help your optometrist diagnose and monitor ocular hypertension. Exams are a simple way to protect your eyesight and reduce your risk of vision loss. Contact us if you need to schedule an appointment for an eye exam.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Ocular Hypertension?, 3/9/21

American Optometric Association: Ocular Hypertension

Bright Focus Foundation: Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma, 4/23/18

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis: Treatment not always needed to prevent vision loss in patients with elevated eye pressure, 4/15/21

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Age-Related
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Eye Lids
    • Changes in Appearance
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
    • Eyeglass Lenses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Glasses & Frames
    • Contacts
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Kid's Vision
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Medical Perspectives

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you.

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients/ learn more about all the services we provide.
    Learn More
  • Make An Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!
    Schedule Now
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.
    View Forms

Monday:

9:00am

5:00pm

Tuesday:

9:00am

5:00pm

Wednesday:

9:00am

5:00pm

Thursday:

9:00am

5:00pm

Friday:

9:00am

3:00pm

Saturday:

Closed

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

  • "We have noticed a huge improvement with our son during and after completing his vision therapy with A New Vision. He is reading at a much higher level, his grades have improved, his confidence has increased, and homework is not taking so long. His improvements are life changing! Thank you so much!"
    D.H. / Beaverton, OR

Featured Articles

Read up on informative topics

  • February Newsletter: Why Dry Eye Is So Difficult to Treat

    Are dry eyes a frequent problem? Try these tips. ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month

    Do you know how age-related macular degeneration could affect your vision? ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: How to Tell if You Have Macular Degeneration

    Do you know the symptoms that may mean you have macular degeneration? ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: Glaucoma FAQs

    Got a few questions about glaucoma? ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Don't Over-Indulge this Holiday Season - Your Eyes Will Thank You

    Could changing your holiday eating habits help you protect your vision? ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Delicious Recipies that Are Healthy for Your Eyes

    Protect your vision with eye-healthy recipes. ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: 5 signs that could be caused by diabetic retinopathy

    These vision problems could spell trouble if you have diabetes. ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: Diabetic eye disease awareness month

    Do you know how diabetic eye diseases can affect your vision? ...

    Read More
  • Your Blurry Vision Could Be Caused by Astigmatism

    Wondering why your vision is blurry? A vision problem called astigmatism may be to blame. ...

    Read More
  • Dry Eyes? Blepharitis Could Be to Blame

    Are your eyes dry and uncomfortable? You may have blepharitis. ...

    Read More

Social Media

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map