A person is considered to have ocular hypertension (OHT) when the intraocular pressure (IOP) exceeds 21 mmHg, with an open drainage angle and no detectable glaucomatous damage. In other words, we speak of ocular hypertension when eye pressure is elevated but the optic nerve shows no signs of damage. When the optic nerve is affected, the condition is called glaucoma.
Approximately 1 in 10 people with ocular hypertension will develop glaucoma within 10 years.
Several risk factors increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma in these patients:
- Intraocular pressure: higher levels mean greater risk.
- Age: risk increases with age.
- Family history of glaucoma.
- Central corneal thickness (CCT): the risk is higher when the CCT is below 555 μm and lower when it is above 580 μm.
- Diabetes
- Myopia or hyperopia
- Narrow iridocorneal angle
- People of Asian or African descent
