Target eye pressure in glaucoma

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Target eye pressure in glaucoma

In the treatment of open-angle glaucoma, your eye doctor will try to reduce the risk of damage to your optic nerve by keeping your eye pressure (intraocular pressure, or IOP) from rising above a certain level. That level of pressure is called your target pressure. By reducing the risk of optic nerve damage, maintaining the target pressure in your eyes may help slow the progression of the disease.

Tonometry is used to measure the pressure in the eyes. The target pressure is based on the degree of optic nerve damage, the amount of visual field loss and, to a lesser degree, the initial pressure in the eye and how widely it varies each time it is measured. The target pressure varies from person to person.

The target pressure may be lowered during treatment if there are signs that your glaucoma is getting worse.

Credits

Author	Robin Parks, MS
Editor	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
Last Updated	July 7, 2006

Last updated:	July 07, 2006
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW, Pat Truman

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