Ocular hypertension is an increase in the pressure in your eyes
that is above the range considered normal with no detectable
changes in vision or damage to the structure of your eyes. The
term is used to distinguish people with elevated pressure from
those with glaucoma, a serious eye disease that causes damage to
the optic nerve and vision loss. Ocular hypertension can occur
in people of all ages, but it occurs more frequently in African
Americans, those over age 40 and those with family histories of
ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma. It is also more common in
those who are very nearsighted or who have diabetes. Ocular
hypertension has no noticeable signs or symptoms. Your doctor of
optometry can check the pressure in your eyes with an instrument
called a tonometer and can examine the inner structures of your
eyes to assess your overall eye health. Not all people with
ocular hypertension will develop glaucoma. However, there is an
increased risk of glaucoma among those with ocular hypertension,
so regular