Ocular hypertension is when the pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) is higher than normal.
Ocular hypertension is not the same as glaucoma, which is an eye disease commonly caused by high intraocular pressure. In people with high intraocular pressure, the optic nerve looks normal and has no signs of glaucoma. However, people who suffer from high intraocular pressure as considered high-risk for glaucoma, which means that their condition should be closely followed by an ophthalmologist.
Intraocular pressure increases slowly as we age.
Usually, no signs or symptoms can be noticed.
It is important that the disease is followed closely and treated before it can cause vision loss or damage to the optic nerve. Depending on your individual case and how high the pressure is, your doctor can decide to not start treatment right away, and instead just follow the progression.
In other cases, a medicine is needed to decrease intraocular pressure. Eye drops for lowering the pressure in the eye can improve ocular hypertension, but it is important that you maintain the prescribed scheme to make the treatment effective.