What is considered normal pressure?

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Normal intraocular pressures average between 12-22 mm Hg. The “mm Hg” refers to millimeters of mercury, which is a scale for recording the eye pressure. Eye pressure can vary hourly, daily and weekly. Many factors can affect the up and down changes in a person’s intraocular pressure. These daily changes are normal. Usually, the higher the pressure, the more risk to the optic nerve. Some optic nerves develop glaucoma even at low pressures (normal tension glaucoma) so it is important to have the optic nerve examined no matter what the pressure may be.

Posted on September 19, 2008 11:46 AM

Comments (1)

How is the optic nerve examined?

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Response from the Glaucoma Research Foundation:

Ophthalmoscopy is used to examine the inside of the eye, especially the optic nerve. In a darkened room, the doctor will magnify your eye by using an ophthalmoscope (an instrument with a small light on the end). This helps the doctor look at the shape and color of the optic nerve.

Here is a link to our information on diagnostic tests for glaucoma: http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/diagnostic_test.php

Posted by Joan McFadden | April 16, 2009 8:06 PM