Treatments for Eye Pressure

Elevated pressure in your eye is called ocular hypertension. High eye pressure is associated with glaucoma but they are not one and the same. If you have ocular hypertension it does not mean you will develop glaucoma. And you can have glaucoma without elevated eye pressure. However, when the elevated pressure in your eye damages your optic nerve, glaucoma can develop. Elevated eye pressure should be monitored and treated to prevent nerve damage.

Surgery

• Elevated high pressure is caused by fluid draining too slowly from your eye, which causes pressure to build up. In some cases, surgery is performed to drain this fluid from your eye. Surgery is usually a last resort after treatment with pills and eyedrops has failed. Laser surgery may also be done. With this, a beam of light is focused on the eye, creating a small opening through which the fluid can drain. Patients may still need to take glaucoma drugs after having laser surgery, and the effects of this procedure may not be permanent.

Beta Blockers

• Beta blockers are drugs used to treat elevated eye pressure. They work by decreasing the production of intraocular fluid. Beta blockers can have cardiac-related side effects such as low blood pressure and decreased heart rate. Beta blockers are supplied as eyedrops and eye gels. Because they tend to cause less irritation than other types of eyedrops, beta blockers are commonly prescribed for patients with cataracts.

Alpha Agonist

• Alpha agonist medications reduce eye pressure in both ways. They decrease fluid production and increase fluid drainage. Potential side effects include stinging of the eyes and a dry nose and mouth.

Adrenergic Drugs

• Adrenergic eyedrops cause frequent allergic reactions. They can have serious side effects like blurred vision and loss of vision. Adrenergic drugs can cause headaches and cardiac complications, like a disturbance of your heart rhythm. These drugs increase fluid drainage by dilating your pupils.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce eye pressure by suppressing the production of intraocular fluid, as much as 40 percent, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Supplied as eyedrops and in pill form, side effects of these inhibitors include memory problems, depression and tingling in the hands and feet.

Cholinergic Drugs

• Cholinergic eyedrops increase the drainage of fluid from the eye. They do this by causing the constriction of your pupil, which can lead to difficulty seeing in dim light.

Prostaglandins

• Prostaglandins are newer drugs used to treat high eye pressure. They also work by increasing fluid drainage from the eye. These drugs tend to cause a gradual change in the color of your eyes because they increase the amount of brown pigment in your iris. They can cause stinging and blurred vision. and are supplied as eyedrops.