The eye contains a front chamber filled with aqueous humor. During an eye examination, an eye doctor will check your eye pressure, using either a puff of air or by putting an eyedrop in the eye and gently touching the eye's surface with an instrument. This measurement indicates the pressure of this fluid filling the front chamber. Understanding how the eye creates this fluid and pressure may help people determine if they have a risk for high eye pressure.
Aqueous Fluid
The eye makes aqueous humor just behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. The aqueous fluid then flows into the front portion of the eye through the opening of the iris, called the pupil, explains the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Aqueous fluid then leaves the front of the eye through the drainage canals located at the outer edge of the iris. In order to maintain a good eye pressure, aqueous fluid must leave the eye as new fluid flows in. This continuous balancing act results in a mildly fluctuating but consistent intraocular eye pressure.
Poor Drainage
High eye pressure occurs when the aqueous fluid builds up in the eye. This typically results from poor drainage pathways out of the eye. For many people, the high pressure will slowly cause eye damage, a condition called glaucoma. It may take many years for people with untreated glaucoma to notice the vision changes. However, in some cases, the iris may block the angle that leads to the drainage canals, states the National Eye Institute. This causes the pressure to build up rapidly, leading to severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting. Vision may blur and the person may also have severe light sensitivity. Anyone with these symptoms requires immediate medical attention since failure to reduce eye pressure may lead to loss of vision.
Treatment
People with eye pressures that cause damage to the eye require glaucoma treatment. Doctors typically begin by prescribing an eyedrop to help reduce eye pressure. These eyedrops often cause considerable irritation, though they do not usually cause additional damage to the eye. If a person using eyedrops has minimal irritation from the drop, the eye doctor may recommend that the patient continue to use the drops. Eye surgeons may recommend a procedure to clear the drainage canal or a procedure that will create a new drainage canal, explains MedlinePlus. Glaucoma patients typically require frequent eye exams to check eye pressure and the overall health of the eye.
