High pressure in right eye, need another test

[LibbyL92]

Hello everyone. I hope this is ok to post here. And if anyone can give me some advice/reassuring I would massively appreciate it.

I had an eye test yesterday. Everything looked ok, but the puff test (which I’m really bad at and struggle with) showed as high in my right eye. They tried again half hour later, it was slightly lower. But still (not sure how high) so they want me to try again next week.

I’ve since come home and started Googling and I’m completely besides myself with worry, convinced I’ll be blind or have a tumour.

I do have allergic rhinitis in my nose, could this be linked to high pressure in my eye? I do get a lot of headaches as well.

She said everything else was fine, looked healthy and no prescription needed.I also had a fields test to check side vision and that was ok.

I’m 28 and otherwise healthy.
I’ve had eye tests twice before and I failed them both times too with the puff test. 10years ago, they re did it and it was fine. And 12 months ago they told me to come back but then lockdown happened ect..

Could it also just be I flinch every time I do it? I really struggle... or should I be worried.. sorry to waffle on but I’m really scared.

I really wouldn’t think of it as a procedure. When I think of procedure I think of the language they use around routine operations, and this is a million miles away from that.

It takes 30 seconds, and I don’t know how long the numbing drops last because I’ve never poked myself in the eye until it hurts again. I don’t think they last long at all but it’s not something you can really notice.

Don’t worry, they’re not going to do anything bad to your eye, I promise. It really is nothing at all.

I agree - if it's similar to the one I had at hospital I found it less weird than the puff test! Even though it sounds awful...

@Whatisthisfuckery @ErmieMum

Thank you both! I don’t know why I said procedure!
Just hope these next two days go quickly 🤞🏼 Here’s hoping the reading is lower and I’m not referred.

I think I need to think positively as she did said my eyes look health and there’s no sight loss. So I need to remember that.

DH has ocular hypertension, diagnosed at the hospital as a result of a puff test at the opticians.

He has occasional checks and takes the drops daily. It’s been years now, it’s mildly annoying at worst.

(Uses eye drops, not really ‘takes’)

Hi OP. Since you’re looking for positivity! I had very high pressure test and was sent to hospital. Turned out there wasn’t a thing wrong with my eyes. I have very thick corneas which apparently affects the test and makes it seem as if the pressure is high. The hospital sent a calculation to my optician as my readings will be high every time. The calculation shows a figure at which the reading would be suspect. The hospital doctor said I had the thickest corneas he had ever seen

@Chewbecca thank you! I guess after a while you get used to the drops. I guess in a way it’s like having to take a pill everyday!

@MrsBungle interesting! I’m glad there’s nothing wrong.

I took myself to the eye hospital this evening. (Suffer with ocd and health anxiety so I was going out of my mind)

They said I was right to come, left eye was 14 and right was 22. They said they are happy with those results. But still urged me to go for the other test at the opticians to follow it through.

So I definitely feel more at ease. Kinda wish they said I didn’t need to go back to the opticians on Saturday. But at least I got some reassurance.

Hi all,

Quick update. Has the Goldmanns test today. Pressures of 22 and 27 :( they refer over 24. So not great at all.

She kept reassuring me saying it’s routine and everything else looks great. But need to establish what’s causing the high pressure.

I can’t help but think the worse. My appointment isn’t for 3 months. I can only assume it’s not an ‘emergency’

My dad has very bad glaucoma although as it was lucked up early, at 78, he still sees well, but had a number of surgeries and now very red eyes due to the drops. His grand mother had it too and went blind.

I have been monitored since he was diagnosed in my early 30s and the pressure in my eyes have gone up and down through the years, but my eyes have otherwise been healthy.

I have noted over the years that there was a correlation between being under stress and a higher eye pressure.

It is steadily going up now in my 50s but still not up enough for a long period to warrant a referral and I'm still only monitored every 2 years.

@dontdisturbmenow Thank you for posting!

What have your eye pressures been? It’s great they’ve been monitoring you over the years.

Mine yesterday morning was 24 and 27. Do you happen to know at what pressure they offer treatment at? Or do they only offer treatment if there’s damage?

It’s not an emergency. Presumably they want you to be seen by a specialist so they can establish if you need any treatment at all - if you just have ocular hypertension you may be discharged after only one or two hospital appointments. High pressure is very common but it’s not up to an optician to diagnose if it’s glaucoma or just ocular hypertension. They need a doctor to do that. So please listed if your optician is not concerned. I wouldn’t be.

@LibbyL92 - just an update. I had my opticians check today and my pressures are 22 and 23. He said they used to refer at 21 but it's over 24 now so mine are borderline High. He found the hospital notes though and looks like it's down to thick corneas . I guess now that's on my record they won't follow up unless it changes.

Hi @ErmieMum! Thank you for the update I’m glad everything is okay!

Mine came back at 24 and 27. So I have been referred, 3 month wait! So I presume not an emergency.
I will update when I’ve had the appointment! Fingers crossed it’s nothing to worry about.

@LibbyL92 - thanks - I do hope you get on Ok - anxious wait I am sure but as you say I am sure it would have been sooner if they were worried! Fingers crossed it's a similar thing for you x

@ErmieMum thank you!
I posted a few weeks back to say I went and took myself to moorefields eye hospital a&e two says before the pressure test, as I got so scared.

They measured my pressures at 6pm and they were 16 and 22, so under the referral! But said to still attend the opticians for the test. Which came back at 24 and 27 at 9am in the morning. They were not worried at all though! So I’m glad I went and heard it from the experts. So fingers crossed when I go to see them again everything is ok

Hi Libby
did you get any answers I also went to Moorfields and have unequal pressure of 14 and 22.

Hiya!

I did go back for the appointment and they said everything was ok. And some people do just have higher pressure.

they told to me inform my opticians for the future.

it was a relief! Moorfields were fantastic and really reassuring!

Thanks so much! I got myself in a state thinking I have eye cancer or something horrific. They were not bothered at Moorfields at the new royal one bit. No further tests or anything so I was so relieved to see your post. Thanks for replying.