Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension is when the pressure inside the eye is higher than normal but without signs of damage to the optic nerve or visual field loss.

Common symptoms

Usually no symptoms; the condition is typically picked up during a routine eye test.

Description

Ocular hypertension is raised intraocular pressure without the optic nerve damage or visual field changes that define glaucoma. It is usually detected during routine eye tests when pressure, optic nerve appearance, and field of vision are checked.

People with ocular hypertension are at higher risk of developing glaucoma over time, especially if pressures are significantly raised or if other risk factors are present.

Depending on the level of pressure and overall risk, an eye specialist may recommend regular monitoring or pressure-lowering eye drops to reduce the chance of future damage.