Many people may not realize that high pressure inside the eye can quietly damage vision over time.
A new study published in Ophthalmology Science reveals that elevated eye pressure, also known as ocular hypertension, might be the starting point for glaucoma—one of the world’s leading causes of permanent vision loss.
The study was led by Professor Yi Hua, a biomedical engineer at the University of Mississippi, along with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. Their goal was to explore how pressure inside the eye affects the tiny blood vessels that supply oxygen to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye.
Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that damages the optic nerve, often without warning signs. It is sometimes called the “silent thief of sight” because people usually don’t notice any symptoms until their vision has already been damaged.
In this study, the researchers wanted to understand how changes in eye pressure might physically affect blood vessels and lead to vision loss.
They focused on a part of the eye called the lamina cribrosa—a spongy, mesh-like tissue located at the back of the eye where the optic nerve exits. This area is especially important because it supports nerve fibers and is closely connected to eye pressure changes.
Normally, the eye produces a fluid called aqueous humor, which flows in and drains out to maintain healthy pressure. But if this fluid doesn’t drain properly, pressure inside the eye can rise.
This increased pressure pushes on the lamina cribrosa, squeezing the blood vessels and reducing oxygen supply. Without enough oxygen, nerve cells begin to die, leading to irreversible vision damage.
To explore this further, the team used 3D computer models and a glowing dye to trace blood flow through the eye under different pressure levels. They found that even slightly increased eye pressure can distort blood vessels and cause hypoxia, or a shortage of oxygen.
In some cases, high eye pressure caused oxygen shortages in about 30% of the lamina cribrosa tissue. These changes are not temporary—while rubbing your eyes gently may cause a brief pressure spike that the eye can handle, long-term high pressure can permanently harm vision.
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Ian Sigal from the University of Pittsburgh, explained that ongoing high pressure over weeks or months can lead to serious damage that cannot be reversed. This is why early detection is so important.
Previous research has shown a connection between high eye pressure and glaucoma, but most studies only found a link without fully explaining why or how the pressure causes damage. According to researcher Yuankai Lu, this study went a step further by combining advanced imaging and modeling to understand how pressure impacts oxygen flow.
This new knowledge could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment. Right now, the only treatment for glaucoma is lowering eye pressure.
But some patients continue to lose vision even after their pressure has been reduced. The researchers hope that a deeper understanding of how eye pressure affects blood flow might open the door to new therapies that protect oxygen supply and prevent damage.
Dr. Hua also stressed the importance of regular eye exams, especially for people at higher risk of glaucoma. Risk factors include health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure, a family history of the disease, and race. Studies show that Black and Latino individuals are more likely to develop glaucoma.
Dr. Hua noted that many people are familiar with the risks of high blood pressure, but few understand that high eye pressure can be just as dangerous. By raising awareness and improving how we detect and treat elevated eye pressure, researchers hope to prevent vision loss and improve outcomes for millions of people.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
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