During the necessary diagnosis, the optometrist determines the pressure in the eyes. They can meet or exceed standard values. The doctor should know the norm of eye pressure in adults and children. And from this the further development of treatment is built.
Concept of eye pressure
This value is called the indicator of the tone formed between the shell of the eyeball and its contents. Every minute, about 2 cubic meters fall into the eye and flow out. mm fluid.
If the process of its discharge is disturbed, moisture accumulates in the organ, IOP increases, the capillaries that transport the fluid are deformed.
Doctors give such a classification to similar changes:
- Transistor Pressure rises for a short period and normalizes without medication.
- Labile. IOP rises periodically and itself returns to normal.
- Stable The performance is constantly above the standard.
Doctors also call eye pressure in a professional language ophthalmotonus.
Measurement methods
In hospital conditions there are only three. They allow you to determine whether the norm of eye pressure is observed in adult patients and children. It is impossible to independently identify the disease.
IOP is measured in the following ways:
- The first is tonometry. Its creator - Maklakov A.N. The method uses local anesthesia, since a foreign body (a special weight) acts on the cornea. The procedure itself causes some discomfort in patients. The body is placed in the middle of the cornea. And after the process, fingerprints are saved on it. An optometrist takes them, measures them and decrypts them. This technique has been around for more than a century, but it gives high-precision results today. And ophthalmologists often give priority to such an apparatus for measuring intraocular pressure, as the Maklakov tonometer.
- The second is pneumonometry. Its principle is similar to the previous method, only the air stream is active here. The procedure is quick, but does not give the most accurate results.
- The third is electronography. The most modern method. Non-contact ophthalmic tonometers are used here. The process is characterized by painlessness and complete safety. The basis of the technique is to increase the generation of fluid inside the eyes and accelerate its discharge.
If the optometrist does not have equipment, he performs a palpation test: puts index fingers on the patient's eyelids and slightly presses on them. It is based on a tactile sensation, analyzes the density of the eyeballs.
General eye pressure standards
The units of ophthalmotonus are millimeters of mercury (mrs).
What is normal eye pressure for children and adults? This is a range of 9-23 mrs. According to Maklakov’s apparatus, this is 18-30 MRS.
During the day, the parameters may vary. The greatest growth is observed in the morning, after sleep. This is due to the prolonged horizontal position and the dominance of the parasympathetic type of nervous system. By evening, the numbers are reduced, and the difference reaches 2-5 mrs.
When calculating the IOP, a Maklakov tonometer, they slightly increase - by 15-26 mrs. This is due to the additional effect of the weight of the device on the eyes.
Standards in adults 30-40 years old
Both men and women, whose age is average, should have indicators 9-21 MRS. Also, the parameters in the morning seriously increase, and in the evening - are reduced. One way or another, jumps should not exceed 5 mrs.
In some situations, superiority over the norm is an individual specificity, and not a deviation. Then measures should not be taken to reduce it.
Situation with the elderly
With age, the risk of glaucoma also develops. And after 40 years, people need to regularly examine the fundus, at least twice a year. As part of this event, IOP is measured and required analyzes are being delivered.
The norm of eye pressure in adults after 40 is 10-22 mrs. Due to the aging of the body, the functionality of each of its organs suffers, and the eyeball is no exception. More often it manifests itself in a decrease in visual acuity.
After 60 years, the norm of eye pressure slightly exceeds the values characteristic of a younger age. Here figures appear in the range of 22-25 mrs provided that the Maklakov instrument measures it.
The norm of eye pressure in the elderly after 70 years is an interval of 23-26 mrs.
Question on women
Their ophthalmotonus is in the range of 10-23 mrs. Only under such conditions, microscopic circulation without obstacles is carried out in the ocular membrane.
This is the norm of eye pressure in women up to old age. And such pressure indicates the healthy functioning of the organs of vision and the complete preservation of optical functions.
In women, IOP also varies throughout the day. The approximate amplitude is 3 mm. Grows in the morning and minimized in the evening.
Women after 60 are also more susceptible to the development of ophthalmic diseases, and the norms increase significantly. According to the general statistics of oculists, every fourth patient of this age group suffers from glaucoma, myopia or hyperopia.
What is the norm of eye pressure in women after 70? According to the Maklakov method, standards should not exceed the parameter 26 mrs.
Pathology - increased IOP
It is more commonly seen in older people. But recently, young men and women are increasingly turning to oculists with a similar problem. It all starts with the manifestation of symptoms (more on them below), and the patient should visit a doctor as soon as possible to conduct the necessary diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.
But the optometrist will not be able to prescribe effective therapy without finding out the cause of the pathology. Today, medicine determines such factors of its appearance:
- Functional malfunction of the body.
- Disorders in the cardiovascular system.
- Powerful psychological and physical stress.
- The consequences of a serious illness.
- Chemical poisoning.
- Age-related metamorphoses.
- Anatomical changes in the eyes, such as atherosclerosis.
Symptomatology
With a slight increase in IOP, it is very difficult to identify the problem without a special examination.
If the deviations are significant from the norm of eye pressure in adults, then the symptoms appear as follows:
- Headache in the temples.
- Fatigue of the organs of vision.
- Painful sensations when the eyeball moves in any direction.
- Discomfort while reading or working on a computer.
- Heaviness in the eyes.
Doctors do not share the symptoms by gender, but they highlight some of the symptoms that are most often manifested in both men and women.
With stable pathological conditions in patients:
- impaired twilight vision;
- severe migraines appear;
- vision is rapidly deteriorating and its radius is reduced in the corners;
- rainbow circles appear in front of the eyes.
And in women, it is often observed:
- profuse tearing;
- nebula in sight;
- Dizziness
- inflammation of the eyes with redness.
Lower deviation from the standard
It is much less common. Its causes are:
- Postponed eye surgery.
- Kidney disease.
- Inflammation of the tissues of the eyeball.
- Foreign bodies for centuries.
- Severe injuries and congenital eye abnormalities.
- Retinal detachment.
- Infectious diseases, due to which the body was brought into a dehydrated state.
With reduced IOP, the symptoms are somewhat dull, and a person often ignores this condition.
Therapeutic treatment
Knowing what fundus pressure is considered normal for a patient of a certain age, as well as the reasons for its increase, the doctor diagnoses and prescribes treatment. It is based on the use of medications. But folk therapy is also not prohibited.
The classic method involves the use of drops and tablets.
- The first option is antihypertensive drugs. They reduce IOP, but are characterized by many side effects.
- Prostaglandins. Thanks to their action, the discharge of fluid increases, the uveoscleral pathway opens. And the maximum benefit from the application manifests itself after a couple of hours. The most famous drugs of this group are: Travoprost, Travatan and Latanoprost.
- Inhibitors Lead to a gradual reduction in ocular fluid generation. For this, the intensity of the element of the ciliary body, which controls the formation of aqueous humor, is neutralized. But they are completely unsuitable for treating people with kidney disease. Their popular examples are Trusopt, Brinzolamide and Dorzolamide.
- Cholinomimetics. It is characterized by a powerful effective action that allows you to quickly achieve a decrease in IOP. But at the same time, they negatively affect visual acuity throughout the entire therapeutic course. They stimulate cholinergic receptors, due to which the pupil narrows. The angle of the anterior region is also quickly revealed, thereby regenerating the outflow of fluid. The most famous representatives of this group: "Pilocarpine", "Glaucon", "D-Epifrin" and "Carbohol".
- Beta blockers. Compared to other items, they are the safest and most effective. The principle of operation is based on the inhibition of products of aqueous humor. Of this category, the most popular are: Okamed, Timoptik, Arutimol and Timolol.
- Also in medicine, combined versions are used. They contain combinations of these items. They are usually prescribed when a separate group of drugs does not bring the expected results. Famous representatives: “Cosopt”, “Xalac” and “Fotil”.
Usually a beta-blocker is combined with any of the presented groups.
As for pill therapy, here are used tools that perform such tasks:
- The removal of excess fluid from the body.
- Improving cerebral circulation and metabolic processes.
Examples: Kapoten, Indapamide, Enalapril, Betalok.
Folk techniques
To reduce IOP, you can not use medication options. There are many recipes based on natural ingredients that can achieve the desired results.
The following are the most common examples:
- Decoction of meadow clover. To normalize the pressure, 100 ml is drunk before bedtime.
- A glass of kefir with a pinch of cinnamon.
- Fresh broth of eyebright (25 g per half liter of boiling water). It cools and strained through cheesecloth. During the day, lotions are made from it 3-4 times a day for 10-15 minutes.
- 5-6 leaves of aloe. They are thoroughly washed and cut into small pieces. Then pour a glass of boiling water and boil for no more than 5 minutes. Created broth should be washed 4-5 times a day.
- Squeezed juice from fresh tomatoes. The daily dosage of its use is 1 glass.
- Two peeled potatoes. Grated, placed in a glass and mixed with apple cider vinegar (1 tsp). After 20-30 minutes, the resulting slurry is laid in gauze. The tool is used as a compress 1-2 times a day.
Preventive measures
Knowing what eye pressure is normal for a particular age group, doctors can detect abnormalities and prescribe treatment. Alternative treatment is also characterized by a good positive effect. Often combined methods are used. But it is extremely important to carry out preventive measures in order to avoid the appearance of the indicated pathology:
- Daily exercises for the eyes.
- Limited computer work.
- Minimize time devoted to watching TV and activities that strain your eyesight.
- If due to various circumstances (work standards, studies, etc.) you have to work hard at a computer, read books, then you should work in special safety glasses. They can be purchased at any optics store.
- The use of drops to moisturize the eyes ("Deflisez", "Natural tear", etc.).
- Frequent walks in the fresh air.