What happens if eye pressure is high

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Yvonne Ou, MD. Full bio. Help find a cure. Donate Now. Stay in touch. Receive Glaucoma research updates and inspiring stories. First Name. Last Name. Enter your email address:. Once that happens, internal pressure rises, and major damage to the optic nerve can result. In many cases, there is no observable damage to the release channels, yet the natural system of drainage unexpectedly stops working. This system can also be disrupted by an injury to the eye e. You are at greater risk for developing ocular hypertension is you are over 40, have thin corneas or a family history of glaucoma.

African Americans also have a statistically higher risk. Use of steroids, including steroid eye drops that are sometimes prescribed after eye surgery, is also linked to elevated pressure within the eye.

In addition, ocular hypertension may suddenly appear with the onset of other eye conditions, such as pseudoexfoliation syndrome, a condition related to age and genetics in which small protein fibers accumulate, clump together and block the free flow of fluid within the eye. Pigment dispersion syndrome can similarly cause accumulation of drainage-blocking particles in the eye.

When this condition occurs, granules of pigment break loose from the iris and obstruct one or more channels. If you would like to know more about elevated eye pressure and ways to protect your vision, we encourage you to schedule a personal consultation with Bay Area ophthalmologist Mark Mandel, MD.

Contact Optima Eye by emailing us or calling ext. If you would like to meet with Dr. Factors that cause or are associated with ocular hypertension are virtually the same as the causes of glaucoma. These include:. Excessive aqueous production. The aqueous or aqueous humor is a clear fluid that is produced in the eye by the ciliary body , a structure located behind the iris. The aqueous flows through the pupil and fills the anterior chamber of the eye, which is the space between the iris and the cornea.

If the aqueous forms faster in the eye than it can drain out, the pressure inside the eye increases, causing ocular hypertension. Inadequate aqueous drainage. High eye pressure also can occur If the aqueous is produced at a normal rate, but drains too slowly from the eye.

Certain medications can have the side effect of causing ocular hypertension. Steroid medicines used to treat asthma and other conditions have been shown to increase the risk for high eye pressure. Be sure to tell your eye doctor if you are using steroid eye drops for any reason. Eye trauma.