Glaucoma and Eye Pressure | National Eye Institute (2024)

FAQs

How high does eye pressure have to be to be glaucoma? ›

Whether you develop glaucoma depends on the amount of pressure your optic nerve can handle — and this amount is different for each person. For most people, eye pressure above 21 is higher than normal. Getting regular dilated eye exams can help your eye doctor figure out what level of eye pressure is normal for you.

Therefore, your eye doctor might measure your corneal thickness. Over a 5-year period, the incidence of glaucomatous damage in people with ocular hypertension is about 2.6-3% for intraocular pressures of 21-25 mmHg, 12-26% for intraocular pressures of 26-30 mmHg, and approximately 42% for those higher than 30 mmHg.

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve, which leads to visual field loss. One of the major risk factors is eye pressure. An abnormality in the eye's drainage system can cause fluid to build up, leading to excessive pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve.

The most common treatment for glaucoma is prescription eye drops. They work by lowering the pressure in your eye and preventing damage to your optic nerve. These eye drops won't cure glaucoma or reverse vision loss, but they can keep glaucoma from getting worse.

Normal eye pressure is between 10mmHg and 20mmHg. Eye pressure that's typically associated with glaucoma is above 21mmHg, but eye damage can develop at a lower or higher pressure for some people.

Drink moderate amounts of fluids. Drinking a quart or more of any liquid within a short time may temporarily increase eye pressure.

A warm, cozy mug of green tea (or a glass of iced, if you'd like) might be helpful for easing some of that eye pressure for an hour or two after sipping, found one small study published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology.

“Strict adherence to medication is the single most important thing a patient with glaucoma can do to keep their vision from worsening,” Yohannan says.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness

And unfortunately approximately 10% of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision.

One study showed that patients with glaucoma taking a supplement that included magnesium—along with hom*otaurine, carnosine, forskolin, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6—demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in IOP, as well as improved light and contrast sensitivity.

What is the new treatment for glaucoma in 2024? ›

Another December 2023 FDA approval was iDose TR, an implant loaded with the prostaglandin analog travoprost 75 mcg. The implant is scheduled for commercial release in the first quarter of 2024, with a projected wholesale acquisition cost of $13,950 per dose or implant.

Normal intraocular pressures average from 12-21 mm Hg. The “mm Hg” refers to millimeters of mercury, a scale for recording eye pressure. Anything that exceeds 21 mm Hg is considered hypertensive. A problem in the drainage of fluid produced in the eye causes increased pressure.

Eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal eye pressure ranges from 12-21 mm Hg, and eye pressure of greater than 21 mm Hg is considered higher than normal.

Occasionally, a person may have a “borderline” eye pressure, which means that, although the pressure is elevated, there is no evidence of glaucoma damage. If you are a Glaucoma suspect with a borderline pressure, your doctor may not prescribe medication immediately.

Intraocular pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal intraocular pressure is 12 to 22 mm Hg. An IOP reading higher than 22 mm Hg is considered ocular hypertension. High eye pressure significantly increases your risk of damage to the optic nerve, causing glaucoma and permanent vision loss.