When you look around the room, what do you see? Do you see everything clearly, or are there spots in your visual field that are a bit blurry or fuzzy? If your answer is the latter, you need to see an optometrist for an assessment. In fact, it is a good idea to see an optometrist once a year whether or not you are actually noticing any changes to your vision. Optometrists offer vital services for us all. If you're seeking a better understanding of those services, then we invite you to read the articles provided on this blog, which is all about optometrists and their work.
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What Do You See?
What Does It Mean If You Have High Eye Pressure?
Harry Garcia
Finding out that you have high eye pressure can be alarming, but it doesn't mean the end of the world. With proper treatment and by seeing your eye doctor on the regular, you can ensure that your eye pressure is controlled and that your vision will be protected. Here's what you need to know about heightened eye pressure and how it gets that way.
How It Gets That Way
High eye pressure is usually caused by three potential factors. The easiest one to understand is that certain medications can cause an increase in eye pressure. This includes steroids that are often prescribed to people with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and asthma.
However, it can also occur if you're taking steroid eye drops. Obviously simply not taking your medication isn't an option, as the rest of your body will suffer as a result. In this case, you can stay on your medication, but your doctor will work to mitigate your eye pressure.
However, high eye pressure can also be caused by the body either producing too much aqueous humor or not draining enough of it. This is a natural fluid that is necessary for the eyes, but like with all things, if it's in the wrong quantities it can do more damage than good.
What It Means For Your Eye Health
High eye pressure is a problem because it's a major risk factor for glaucoma. As you probably know, many people in older age develop glaucoma and it's a potential risk factor for blindness. In fact, it's the leading cause of blindness for senior citizens. That's why it's so important to control this condition as much as possible. Otherwise, the nerves in your eye could be permanently damaged and so could your vision.
What Your Eye Doctor Will Do About It
For most people, a simple exam will reveal whether or not you have high eye pressure. It's performed in a doctor's office. This test is usually done with what looks like a small pen. After the eyes are numbed, the 'pen' is tapped onto the surface of the eye several times to measure the pressure in each one. Try not to blink during this test or they'll have to start all over again.
If your eye doctor confirms that you have high eye pressure, then they'll want to start medication to help control it. This is good news, because it means you don't have to give up any medications you're already on that might be causing your high eye pressure.
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