Keeping your eyes healthy is crucial for maintaining good vision and overall eye health. One important factor is monitoring and controlling your eye pressure, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP). Elevated eye pressure is a major risk factor for developing glaucoma, which is a group of eye diseases that can result in optic nerve damage and vision loss. Thankfully, there are several ways you can check your eye pressure at home or with an eye doctor to catch any issues early.
What is normal eye pressure?
Normal eye pressure ranges between 10-21 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). The average eye pressure is around 15-16 mm Hg.
If your eye pressure consistently measures higher than 21 mm Hg, you may have ocular hypertension or high eye pressure. This means you are at increased risk for developing glaucoma and vision damage over time if the pressure is not lowered.
Pressures below 10 mm Hg are considered low, but usually do not cause problems unless you have other eye issues. Sudden drops in eye pressure could signal issues like a wound or perforation in the eye.
Why is monitoring eye pressure important?
Keeping your eye pressure within a healthy range is critical for protecting your vision and eye health. Here’s why monitoring eye pressure matters:
– High eye pressure damages the optic nerve over time – The optic nerve connects your eye to the brain to enable sight. When pressure is too high, it puts stress on the optic nerve fibers and can destroy them. This causes irreversible vision loss in glaucoma.
– Most people with glaucoma have no symptoms until major vision loss occurs – Glaucoma develops slowly and leads to peripheral vision loss first, which you may not notice. The only way to detect it early is to check eye pressure regularly.
– Lowering high eye pressure prevents vision damage – Catching and controlling ocular hypertension prevents it from progressing to glaucoma. This preserves your vision.
– Low pressure may be a sign of eye problems or damage – Sudden drops in eye pressure could mean you have a wound, infection, or inflammation in the eye that needs treatment.
How often should I get my eye pressure checked?
The frequency of eye pressure screenings depends on your age and risk factors:
– Every 2-4 years if you’re under age 40 and have no risk factors
– Every 1-3 years if you’re age 40-64 with no major risk factors
– Every 1-2 years if you’re over age 65
– Every 6-12 months if you have high eye pressure, glaucoma, or other eye conditions
– Every 3-6 months if you have advanced glaucoma
People at higher risk for elevated eye pressure may need more frequent testing. African Americans over age 40 and people with a family history of glaucoma are at increased risk. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can advise you on the ideal schedule for eye pressure checks.
How to check eye pressure at home
There are a few methods you can use at home to get a general sense of your eye pressure. However, these tests are not as precise and reliable as having your eye doctor measure your pressure. Home eye pressure checks include:
Tactile pressure
Gently pressing on your closed eyelid with your finger and comparing it to your other eye. If one eye feels notably firmer, the pressure may be higher in that eye.
Air puff testers
Handheld devices that puff a burst of air onto your eye then estimate pressure based on how your eye responds. Brands include the Icare HOME and Propell. They cost about $100-200.
Tonometry tests
Devices called rebound or indentation tonometers estimate eye pressure based on how your eye rebounds after being touched by a small probe. Brands include the iCare Tonovet and ZEISS i.Pro. They range from $125-200.
While home tonometry is more accurate than other DIY methods, the measurements can still vary significantly from your true eye pressure. Home tests should not replace regular screenings by an eye care provider.
Professional eye pressure tests
To get the most precise and reliable measurement of your eye pressure, have an eye doctor perform an exam. There are two main methods:
Air puff test
This non-contact tonometry puffs a jet of air onto your eye. It measures your intraocular pressure based on how your cornea responds. This is fast and painless.
Applanation tonometry
The gold standard method. It involves gently touching the cornea’s surface with a prism or probe to measure how much force is required to flatten it. This indicates eye pressure. Types include:
– Goldmann applanation tonometer – The classic standard attached to a slit lamp
– Perkins tonometer – Handheld applanation tonometer
– Tono-Pen – Portable digital applanation tonometer
Applanation is very accurate but requires anesthetic eye drops. Your doctor will ensure proper calibration and technique for reliable pressure readings.
Who should get their eye pressure tested?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye pressure screenings for:
– African Americans over age 40
– All adults over age 60, especially 65+
– People with a family history of glaucoma
– Diabetics
– Those with high nearsightedness or thin corneas
– People who have had eye injuries or trauma
– Anyone with symptoms of possible glaucoma, like seeing halos around lights
– Current or past steroid users, such as creams, eyedrops, inhalers
Eye pressure checks are quick, non-invasive procedures that can detect issues before you notice any problems with your eyesight. If your optometrist or ophthalmologist recommends eye pressure screenings, be sure to make it part of your routine eye exam.
What if my eye pressure is high?
If your measured eye pressure is consistently above 21 mm Hg, you have ocular hypertension. Additional tests will be done to check for early signs of glaucoma damage to determine if you need treatment. These may include:
– Dilated eye exam to closely inspect the optic nerve and retina
– Visual field testing to map your peripheral and central vision
– OCT scan to get high-resolution 3D images of the optic nerve and retina
– Corneal thickness measurement, since thinner corneas may give falsely high pressure readings
– Gonioscopy to check your drainage angle structure
If there is no evidence of glaucoma yet, your doctor will have you return more frequently to monitor your eye pressure and check for changes. You may just need annual exams.
If glaucoma is detected early, treatment to lower eye pressure helps prevent further damage. This usually starts with prescription eyedrops. Other options are laser therapy, microsurgery, and oral medications in more advanced cases.
Controlling elevated eye pressure preserves vision so you can avoid blindness. That’s why regular eye pressure checks, along with comprehensive eye exams, are so important.
Tips for keeping eye pressure in a healthy range
Besides monitoring and treating high eye pressure, here are some tips to help keep your eyes healthy:
– Maintain a healthy weight – Obesity raises eye pressure
– Exercise regularly – Aerobic activity may help lower pressure
– Limit caffeine – High intake is linked to elevated eye pressure
– Don’t smoke – Smoking increases glaucoma risk
– Wear protective eyewear – Prevent eye trauma from sports, work, etc.
– Eat eye-healthy foods – Those high in antioxidants like fruits and veggies
– Skip eye “whitening” drops – Can contain steroids that raise pressure
– Take eye medications as prescribed – Follow your eye doctor’s treatment plan
Conclusion
Checking your eye pressure is easy and important to protect your vision and eye health. Eye pressure screenings should be part of your routine eye exams, especially if you have glaucoma risks like being over age 60 or having a family history. Don’t rely only on home eye pressure tests. See your optometrist or ophthalmologist for the most accurate readings.
If you develop ocular hypertension, catching it early through eye pressure monitoring means glaucoma treatment can be started to prevent optic nerve damage and vision loss. Stick to your doctor’s eye exam schedule, get eye pressure checked regularly, and control any high readings. This protects your eyesight in the long run.