What is intraocular eye pressure and how is it important with glaucoma management?
Author: Dr. Joel Solano
Most people have eye pressures that are between 11 and 21. With that said, if you have glaucoma, your doctor needs to determine what your eye pressures should be so that you do not lose vision. Even though having a high eye pressure puts you at risk for glaucoma, there are people who develop glaucoma even with low eye pressures. If you have any doubts about your eye health, you should get a full dilated exam with your eye care provider.
Glaucoma is a disease that if left untreated results in vision loss. There are many risk factors for the disease but the most modifiable risk factor is eye pressure. When eye pressure reaches damaging levels to your optic nerve you risk losing vision. Your eye doctor can help you determine the pressures that are causing damage to your vision and together you can target keeping your pressures below those damaging levels.
Fluid called aqueous is created in the eye and that fluid exits through a structure in the eye that acts like a drain for the eye. When that drain gets clogged, there becomes a backup of fluid with increases the pressure within the eye. If this pressure gets to high it can lead to vision loss.
Eye pressure is measured in a variety of ways but the gold standard is called the Goldmann tonometer and was developed in 1954. This method of measuring the eye pressure requires using a prism to touch the eye. There are also electronic and air-puff devices that you might find in medical offices that are also used to measure a person’s eye pressure. Eye pressures fluctuate throughout the day and also from day-to-day. In general, eye pressure tends to be highest in the morning compared to afternoon and higher when we are laying down compared to the upright position.
