San Antonio eye care
Ocular hypertension (high eye pressure) in San Antonio, TX
Ocular hypertension means eye pressure is higher than normal while the optic nerve is still healthy. It has no symptoms but raises the risk of glaucoma.
What is ocular hypertension?
Fluid constantly flows into and out of the front of the eye through a drainage area called the angle. If it drains too slowly, pressure rises. Normal eye pressure is roughly 10 to 21 mmHg.
With ocular hypertension, pressure is above that range but there is no damage to the optic nerve yet. As a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist, Dr. Kavanagh weighs your pressure, corneal thickness, family history and nerve scans to decide whether to treat now or monitor closely.
Ocular hypertension care in San Antonio
Patients come to our San Antonio – Medical Center office at 10935 Wurzbach Rd, Suite 202 for ocular hypertension care from Stone Oak, Alamo Heights, Shavano Park, Leon Valley, Helotes, Universal City and across San Antonio. With three San Antonio offices (Medical Center, North Central and South), there is usually one close to home or work. Dr. Kavanagh operates at three San Antonio surgery centers, plus GRMC Outpatient in Seguin.
Symptoms
- Usually none: you cannot feel high eye pressure
- That's why it is found at routine eye exams
Risk factors
- Family history of glaucoma
- Age over 40
- Thin corneas
- Long-term steroid use
- Previous eye injury
- African American or Hispanic heritage
How we evaluate it
We measure pressure (tonometry), corneal thickness (pachymetry), look at the drainage angle (gonioscopy), scan the optic nerve with OCT and test your side vision with a visual field. Repeating these over time shows whether anything is changing.
Treatment options
Dr. Kavanagh and our team see patients for ocular hypertension at our San Antonio office and across South Texas. Every plan is tailored to your eyes after an exam.
For educational purposes. This page explains common conditions and treatments to help you prepare for your visit. Your exam determines the right plan for your eyes.
Know your number
What your eye pressure means
Pressure alone doesn't tell the whole story. Corneal thickness, optic nerve health and family history all shape the decision to treat.
Questions
Common questions
Will ocular hypertension turn into glaucoma?
Not always. Many people never develop glaucoma, but treatment lowers the risk for those who are at higher risk.
Is it the same as high blood pressure?
No. Eye pressure and blood pressure are separate, although both are worth keeping in a healthy range.
Related conditions
