Intraocular pressure


This refers to eye pressure.  High levels of IOP can cause glaucoma.  High pressure can be built up in the eye due to a build up of aqueous humour.  Aqueous humour is continuously produced by the eye and acts to keep the eye nourished and helps it to maintain a globular shape.  As it is produced, the fluid is drained away.  However, if the drainage system becomes blocked, excessive fluid is produced and eye pressure increases.

There is no general consensus as to why the drainage system becomes blocked or why excessive fluid is produced.  Eye pressure may also increase due to the use of topical steroid eye drops, which are used to treat eye inflammation.

Typically, a healthy eye has an eye pressure of between 10 and 21 mm of mercury.  On a daily basis this can increase or decrease due to exercise, stress, fluid consumption and even caffeine.  If eye pressure is consistently over 21, then you may have ocular hypertension.  If increased eye pressure leads to glaucoma, the optic nerve can become damaged and there is a heightened risk of blindness.

If you are considering laser eye treatments or other eye surgery procedures, your eye pressure will be measured as it can often act as a contraindication.  Intraoclular pressure can be measured using a tonometer.  This procedure involves numbing the eye with eye drops and then applying the tonometer to the front surface of the eye to give a pressure reading.


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