Eyecare professionals are responsible for educating their patients about eye health. One crucial aspect they often overlook is intraocular pressure (IOP). High IOP can have serious consequences, which is why it’s important to help your patients understand and manage this condition. Read on to learn why high intraocular pressure is bad for patients’ eye health.
Patients With High IOP Can Develop Glaucoma
The most common consequence of high IOP is the development of glaucoma. This disease progresses silently, and a majority of patients experience no symptoms until they have significant vision loss.
You can help your patients prevent this condition by encouraging them to attend regular check-ups. In these appointments, you can identify elevated IOP and glaucoma in its early stages, which will allow you to help your patients explore treatment options.
They Can Experience Optic Nerve Damage
Another reason why high intraocular pressure is a bad thing is because it can lead to optic nerve damage. This nerve is responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. As IOP increases, it stresses and damages the optic nerve fibers. Eye care professionals should act promptly if patients exhibit signs of high IOP, as it might indicate optic nerve damage.
They Can Lose Their Sight Without Treatment
The most severe ramification of high IOP is the loss of sight. At first, your patients may not notice a difference in their vision because glaucoma initially affects peripheral vision. As the disease progresses, peripheral vision narrows, leading to “tunnel vision.” If left untreated, glaucoma can eventually cause total blindness.
Eyecare professionals must stress the importance of early detection and intervention to patients in order to minimize the risk of vision loss. They can also help their patients by performing quality eye examinations with tools like Tonopen covers from Automated Ophthalmics. You can order our powderless, made-in-the-USA tip covers for handheld tonometers in bulk or individually wrapped.