How To Know When Eye Pressure Is REALLY A Problem

Glaucoma can be scary, confusing, frustrating, especially when it comes to eye pressure. I think that in order to tame the beast, you have to understand it first. Understanding glaucoma can make it less daunting and give a greater outlook on the treatment plan ahead.

A great place to start is understanding eye pressure (Intraocular Pressure/IOP) and its role in glaucoma. It's helpful to know what it means, what it DOESN'T mean, and why the same eye pressure number can mean very different things between one person and the next.

In this video, I'll break down eye pressure into ranges and give special attention to the pressure ranges that tend to confuse people the most. I'll also answer a couple of questions I've gotten about eye pressure to pull it all together.

Have you been confused by eye pressure discussions? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you to those who watch, like, and subscribe!!

Guide Through Glaucoma Diagnosis:
How Glaucoma Eye Drops Work:
All About Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma:
More Glaucoma Facts:

*The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional. Content used with educational and transformative intent within Fair Use Guidelines.*
-Doctor Elisabeth Hottel

[pripri]

A very clear explanation, thanks.

I’ve just been diagnosed with ocular hypertension and put on carteolol once a day every morning. My pressure was 28/20 and after medication it’s around 17/14. All my tests and imaging show no nerve damage.

I have two ophthalmologists and one says I can stop medication when/if my numbers get to 15. The other says I should continue with drops .

I also noticed that my pressures are lowest in the morning and higher in the afternoon . This I believe isn’t normal . Maybe I’m just more chilled in the morning.

[rheung]

Excellent explanations. I got the early signs of glaucoma, as visual field testing less than normal, and 25 pressure while corneal thickness already thinner… So, will see the specialist doctor. Your youtube here is probably the best I could find. Many thanks indeed.

[TomDOLAN-cbth]

An excellent YT presentation and I learned a ton. I do have issues in my right eye, under a doctor´s care, but your so well done video helps a lot to make everything clearer to me. All the best for you and the channel. Burgos, Spain

[monjoseph]

Clear explanation i am on drops for high eye presure.

[BenSlover]

Thank you Dr. Elisabeth for posting this, as well as the other very informative videos you've posted in the past.

[emiliasapalo]

Hi, am from the Philippines, an avid fan of yours, a Glaucoma patient. Thank you & more power.

[kelliholley]

Wow! I wish my doctor could explain things as well as you can. Thank you so much!

[bakarka]

Very helpful and fleshes out more of what I was told at my recent diagnosis which I found a bit confusing. For the first time I was found to have pressures in the 21-25 range, and also a small area of visual field loss in one eye, so I am starting on Latanoprost. Although I think my peripheral vision is very good, so I'm not sure what degree of "loss" it is. It seems every year my doctor has newer equipment and more expensive tests, so I wonder how it was diagnosed in my grandmother who had glaucoma over 50 years ago.

[sred]

Commenting for others FYI, I’m fairly fit and young but since I got port wine stain on my face this is causing secondary glaucoma to my eye where port wine stain is. So if you know someone with port wine stain get glaucoma checked

[cutestuff]

Dr Elisabeth, you’re Awesome!! Great Explanation!! Thank you for sorting things out!! 😊

[sammyrothrock]

Mine was 60 it was horrible pain had Trabeculectomy, laser, and finally Ahmed implant finally got it under control

[DAlilbigman]

Can you tell a difference in vision when eye pressure is high or lower? Example: I have a friend who has light perception with an eye pressure diagnosis at 29. Just been prescribed eye drops to lower the eye pressure. The doctor wants it around 10-14. If lowered will her light vision get clearer or this is just to preserve whatever optical nerve is left? Oh and yes the doctor did diagnose her to have glaucoma. She has had cataract surgery and retina detachment surgery

[hagbard]

My pressure in my left eye was 18 in Nov, 23 in April and 28 in July. Very concerned. Oh, age 67. Did get a diagnosis of pseudoexfoliation but she didn't use the word "glaucoma" at all.

[cloeooi]

Can you please tell me how to prevent glaucoma and how to prevent the eyes pressure from going high?
Thank you!

[ArchitectureDesign]

Dear Doctor,

I experienced trauma to one of my eyes as a child. A month ago, my intraocular pressure (IOP) was at 50, which damaged my optic nerve, resulting in about 30% vision in that eye. I underwent GATT surgery one month ago and have been using three types of eye drops since then. Currently, my IOP is 20. Is this still considered high? If so, what additional steps should I take?

[ade]

Hi I have eye pressures in the 30's, visual field tests ok, but very thick corneas. How much can the thick corneas be contributing to the high pressures? What could they be if they were more of an average thickness? Does it make just a few single figure differences or could it be more significant say in double figures? Thank you.

[louisgilbert]

Thanks for this info. I an 66 and have acute closed angle glaucoma and want tot know if I can use castor oil as an eye cream for aging? Is it safe! Thanks ❤

[sred]

Can you talk about secondary glaucoma due to port wine stain?

[cristinecurmale]

I have glaucoma i was stable but once i changed the medicine i checked today i found myself with 29 pressure i m afraid to lose my eye he told me that's too high pressure 😢

[ronfalee]

My eyes pressure is.6 -.7, it's too low? Doctor said I have glaucoma and prescribed lanoprost0.005