How long has it been since you had your eyes checked? Have you ever thought that you might have a problem that you didn’t know about?
Don’t forget that intraocular pressure exists, this is one of the key points that you should check, and if it is not detected in time it can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve in addition to the presence of numerous other problems with vision or the eye. Intraocular pressure can cause the development of several types of eye diseases.
What is intraocular pressure?
Intraocular pressure or intraocular tension is the pressure that the fluids of the eye exert against the eye walls. This pressure is necessary for the eye to remain relaxed.
Eye pressure can be a risk factor for eye diseases. If it is very high, it can develop diseases such as glaucoma, this disease occurs when the optic nerve is damaged, then the nerve deteriorates and with this blind spots appear in the vision.
The eye is covered with the liquid necessary to fulfill the functions required for the health and functioning of the eye, this liquid is divided into two parts with different textures and compositions.
- Vitreous humour
This is a gelatinous liquid that is found between the retina and the lens. As a person ages, this substance becomes more liquid. Its renewal is very slow and scarce.
- Aqueous humour
Its renewal is constant and provides nutrients and oxygen to the avascular tissues of t he eye such as the cornea and the lens.
Factors to take into account when measuring intraocular pressure
It is important to have eye examinations to check that everything is working properly. High eye pressure can be very harmful and can damage the optic nerve and lead to glaucoma. So if you have developed risk factors, it is important to have your eyes checked at least once a year.
Correct eye pressure helps to maintain the spherical shape of the eyeball.
It is not easy to know whether eye strain is causing damage to the optic nerve or not, as each eye is capable of withstanding a different strain, so in order to assess the health of the eye it is necessary to take into account the eye pressure and damage caused, history, visual acuity, pathologies, ocular mobility, reflexes and adaptation to light, etc. Without a complete study of the eye, it is not possible to know how the patient’s eye health will progress.
The way to measure eye pressure is by tonometry. This is the technique that measures the eye pressure, which is the force required to deform the cornea. If the amount of pressure required to do this is high, we could be dealing with a case of hypertension, which is a sign of glaucoma.
On the other hand, there are also factors that affect intraocular pressure, such as.
- Age.
- Race.
- Genetics.
- Eye injuries and diseases.
- Pachymetry (corneal thickness).
- Myopia and high hyperopia.
- Narrow iridocorneal angle.
In order to maintain correct eye pressure, have annual eye check-ups and follow the advice given to you by your doctor, as eye pressure is not only influenced by genetics, but also by lifestyle habits.
Treatments for eye strain
Some treatments you can use to combat eye strain are:
- Eye drops
There are several types of eye drops with different purposes, go to an ophthalmologist to evaluate your eye health and prescribe eye drops according to your needs. Do not use these types of drops without a prescription or medical indications.
- Oral treatments
If eye drop treatments have not been effective, go back to your doctor, who may prescribe oral treatments to help you keep your intraocular pressure under control. Be aware that these treatments could cause uncomfortable side effects.
- Surgery
If oral treatment and eye drops have not been sufficient or the patient wants to solve the problem in another way, surgery will be used.
Eye surgery involves laser surgery or surgical techniques in which the aqueous humour is drained or its production is reduced.
This surgery aims to prevent damage to the optic nerve and preserve vision, but the surgeries may or may not work depending on the patient.
Intraocular pressure check-up in Barcelona
At Màcula Visió we take care of your visual health and advise on the best treatment according to your needs, to prevent eye pressure from affecting your vision, this problem is not easy to detect until it has caused irreversible damage.
We help you with personalized solutions to take care of your vision, guaranteeing you the highest quality of the products we work with and the latest technology.
We offer all types of visual aids in Barcelona, just contact us and we will offer you a professional and quality service, providing you with all our expert knowledge and experience in the sector.
We are not only specialised in intraocular pressure, we are also experts in low vision.
Our qualified team will provide you with the best care and will try to find the fastest and most effective solution to solve your vision problems.
We look forward to seeing you at our facilities for your next optometric visit.