Glaucoma

[user1482573375]

Had appt with private consultant, NHS appt in a week. He said my eyes were healthy. But pressure in right eye 20, in left 23. He said I didn't have glaucoma. I was on watch. To have optician appt every 6 months. I thought those pressures were a bit on the high side. But he said to go to NHS appt, so I was in the system. Worried now, my eye pressure is high, anyone have any opinion on that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraocular_pressure

Hi I'm an optometrist. Some people naturally have high pressure, but obviously we can't assume that it's just how you are so it needs to be monitored. You will be monitored to check there are no changes to the back of your eye or your field of vision. Don't worry unnecessarily, but do watch for any changes to your eyes/vision

21 as a cut off for high intra ocular pressure is a bit arbitrary as there are other factors involved in diagnosing glaucoma. You can have raised pressures without having glaucoma, sometimes people will be given a diagnosis of ocular hypertension, and sometimes this may be treated if it's felt that there is a risk of progression to glaucoma. It's also possible to have glaucoma with intra ocular pressures in the "normal" range.

The NHS sight test isn't really set up for monitoring possible glaucoma- depending where in the country you are, you may find that you are referred back in each time your IOPs are over 21. It would be helpful for your optician to have a letter from the consultant explaining that they recommend a ST every 6/12, and also at what level of IOP they want to see you again.