intraocular pressure differences between eyes

[speedy12]

Dear Doctor,

My ophtalmologist has alerted me to the progressing difference of Intraocular Pressure between eyes, going slowly up from 3 to 4 over a few months. Is this some cause for alarm?
She suggested that I do GDX VCC to measure the thickness of the optic nerve tissues.
My pressure is within a normal range, it is just this difference increasing from 2 to 3 and then to 4 that worries me.

Thanks for your reply.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes if the pressure was taken correctly. If you were at a commercial optician like Lenscrafter's or a non-MD eye tester (optometrist) I would be sure your follow up vision is with an Eye MD physician. Your family MD can refer you or you can find one near you at www.geteyesmart.org

JCH MD

[Barb701]

Hello, I am a 48 year old female and was just tested. The difference between my eyes is an 8 on the R and 19 on the L.  I do get bad headaches with pain in the eyesocket on the left side temple every so often. The eye doctor said that he wants me to come back in one month to re-check after I have worn my new Rx eyeglasses. Should I be concerned?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

That is a very concerning symptom and he needs to see his personal MD ASAP but IOP or a minor difference like that would never cause those symptoms.

Please act now.

JCH MD

[sina102]

Dear Dr:

My father is 71 and recently he have woken up with dizziness many times. the difference of intraocular pressure between his eyes is 3( 16 on one eye and 19 on the other). Can be any relation between this problem and the brain or his dizziness?

thank you Dr.Hagan

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It need not indicate you are developing or will develop glaucoma. Stick close to your Eye MD.

BTW  did the yag treatment help the lasers? In general its been dropped as a standard treatment due to low, very low, success rate.

JCH MD

[speedy12]

Thank you very much Dr Hagan.

I had laser done to disperse floaters in May on my right eye, however the difference between the pressure of two eyes was spotted before, now it just went from 3 to 4.

Would that be indicative of starting glaucoma or any other problems in the eye. Thanks a lot for your reply.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes it would require watching especially with it going up. Getting a GDX or OCT and measuring central corneal thickness would be indicated. If this eye has had trauma that would be quite worrisome.

JCH MD