Ocular Hypertension: 4 Causes of High Eye Pressure

When you go to the optometrist, your doctor checks your eye pressure by directing a short burst of air at the globe of your eye. A normal reading falls anywhere from 12 to 22 millimeters of mercury. If your reading falls in the normal range, you are in good shape. If your reading is high and you don't have signs of glaucoma, you may have a condition called ocular hypertension or high eye pressure. There are several causes of high eye pressure, including the following. 

1. Too Much Aqueous Humor

Your eye is like an inflated water balloon that's full of aqueous humor, a clear fluid that contains proteins. If your eye has too much of this fluid, your eye pressure will be high. You develop too much fluid for one of two reasons. Either your eye is producing more fluid than it should or the fluid isn't draining properly. An excessive amount of fluid in the globe of your eye can result in high eye pressure. Problems with drainage are often caused by a blockage in the trabecular meshwork, a part of the eye that drains aqueous humor through the eye's anterior chamber.  

2. Certain Types of Medications

Certain types of medications, such as steroids, can cause increased eye pressure. Unfortunately, your medication can cause high eye pressure without you even knowing it. If it goes untreated, your eye may suffer damages as a result. That's why it's so important to keep your regular eye appointments, especially if you're on prescription medications. It's the only way you can be sure your eyes are healthy.

3. Some Eye Diseases

Some eye diseases and disorders can lead to ocular hypertension. Glaucoma is one of the more common ones. Other conditions that can cause high eye pressure include corneal arcus and pigment dispersion syndrome. 

4. Injury to the Eye

Any sort of trauma to the eye can lead to high eye pressure, especially if the injury prevents fluid from draining properly. Injury can also cause swelling, which can lead to increased pressure. 

Without treatment, high eye pressure can cause significant damage to the eye. Therefore, it's vital that you keep all of your eye appointments and have your eye pressure checked regularly. High eye pressure has many causes. Your optometrist will be able to diagnose your condition and tell you what's causing it. They can also take measures to correct your high eye pressure before it leads to other problems. Contact an establishment like the California Eye Specialists Medical Group Inc. for further information.