How to Treat Ocular Hypertension
Ocular hypertension can be treated using eye drops recommended by your eye doctor. The eye drop is used to remove excess aqueous humor from your eye or reduce the amount synthesized by the eye. Examples of eye drops used include:
- Prostaglandins (travoprost, latanoprost) [6]
- Rho kinase inhibitors (netarsudil)
- Nitric oxides (latanoprostene bunod)
- Beta blockers (timolol)
- Carbonic annhyfrase inhibitors (dorzolamide, brinzolamide)
In most cases, your doctor will allow a follow-up appointment for some weeks to observe any improvements. Ocular hypertension increases the chances of having glaucoma, so it is important to visit you eye doctor every 1 to years for a test. When the elevation in eye pressure is mild, you doctor may only prescribe eye drops.
When no improvement is observed after using prescribed eye drops, doctors recommend surgery to reduce intraocular pressure. Surgery is mainly done to make a channel for aqueous humor to drain properly form the eye. This can be done with a laser or other traditional surgical methods.