What is intraocular pressure?

Intraocular pressure is the pressure that forms during the microcirculation of fluid inside the eye, in particular, the sclera and the cornea. Intraocular pressure is normal and constant, as the outflow and flow of fluid inside the eye has its balance. Due to this balance the spherical shape of the eye is maintained, the optical property of the organ of vision is preserved.

Intraocular pressure causes.

Increased intraocular pressure occurs with increased reproduction of the eye fluid or when there is a violation of its outflow. At the initial stages, the increase in intraocular pressure does not manifest itself in any way, nevertheless, it can lead to the formation of glaucoma, a chronic disease in which the field of vision gradually decreases , optic nerves atrophy, destruction of the retina and photosensitive cells occur. According to statistics in every fourth case, glaucoma passes into blindness.

When intraocular pressure is raised slightly, patients feel heaviness in the eyeballs, as well as rapid fatigue and frequent headaches. Unaware of their increased intraocular pressure, patients often explain such signs of fatigue, and meanwhile the disease progresses. When symptoms such as persistent heaviness and eye fatigue appear, one should immediately go to the ophthalmologist for examination, he will measure intraocular pressure, and he will examine the condition of the optic nerves. It is recommended that you regularly consult an ophthalmologist after you are forty, as the risk of developing glaucoma and other diseases affecting the eyeball increases with age.

In addition to glaucoma, increased pressure may develop as a result of hormonal changes (thyrotoxicosis, menopause). With a similar increase in pressure, the risk of complications is less, yet, this does not exclude the need, is constantly under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.

Lowered intraocular pressure is less common than increased. To lower the pressure, there may be causes, such as eye injuries, pressure can develop as a result of the complications that have been transferred after a special operation on the eyeball. If the decrease in intraocular pressure persists for one month and longer, it can become a serious violation of the trophism of the eye tissues, after which the eye can die. Also, the source of intraocular pressure reduction may be the administration of intraocular pressure-lowering medications to glaucoma sufferers. A similar condition for patients is more dangerous than increased intraocular pressure, because there is a disturbance in the make-up of the optic nerve.

There are no standardized indicators of eye pressure, the level of pressure depends on how it is measured. The most common way to determine the intraocular pressure is to place on the cornea special weights that have a precisely verified weight.

How to reduce the intraocular pressure.

To correct the intraocular pressure, appropriate eye drops are used, however, in the process of treatment, it is necessary to constantly monitor the amount of pressure: eyes can get used to a certain drug, side effects may appear. One patient can be attributed not more than three or four drugs, and the lack of results from the course of treatment is an indication for microsurgical correction or laser treatment. In the process of surgical intervention, the patient improves the existing outflow path, or forms a new way for outflow of the eye fluid.