Ocular hypertension is an increase in the pressure in your eyes that is above the range considered normal. Patients diagnosed as "Ocular Hypertensives" have no detectable changes in vision or damage to the structure of their eyes. The term is used to distinguish people with elevated pressure from those with glaucoma, a serious eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

Ocular hypertension can occur in people of all ages, but it occurs more frequently in African Americans, those over age 40 and those with family histories of ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma. It is also more common in those who are very nearsighted or who have diabetes.

Ocular hypertension has no noticeable signs or symptoms. Your doctor of optometry can check the pressure in your eyes with an instrument called a tonometer and can examine the inner structures of your eyes to assess your overall eye health.

Not all people with ocular hypertension will develop glaucoma. However, there is an increased risk of glaucoma among those with ocular hypertension, so regular comprehensive optometric examinations are essential to your overall eye health.

There is no cure for ocular hypertension, however, careful monitoring and treatment, when indicated, can decrease the risk of damage to your eyes. Patients with ocular hypertension can be thought of like someone who has been told they are pre-diabetic. Ocular hypertensive patients should have their pressure evaluated at minimum on a yearly basis. Because this condition has no signs or symptoms, it is very important that everyone have yearly eye health examinations. There are many individuals who have had good vision all their life and don't believe they need their eyes examined therefore would never know if they were ocular hypertensive or not. As mentioned above this group of patients is at risk for developing glaucoma.

Current statistics from the National Eye Institute (NEI) estimate that 53% of glaucoma patients are undiagnosed. As the baby boomer population explodes over the next 5-10 years the NEI believes the incidence of glaucoma will rise significantly. In fact, in the next 25 years the NEI estimates that the incidence of glaucoma will double. A simple eye pressure test can help make the difference between having good vision in your retirement years or no vision at all. Glaucoma is currently the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States.

If you have questions concerning ocular hypertension or would like to have your eye pressure evaluated please contact our offices in Stillwater @ 405-372-1715 or Pawnee @ 918-762-2573. We also invite you to visit our website @ www.cockrelleyecare.com.