The College of Optometrists

if a young person had IOPs of 28 NCT or more with no other risk factors such as PDS then would you refer for further investigation as to the cause of this? can cular hypertension at young age be somthing to worry about? with NCT when would you worry about young people?

thanx

If a young person had IOP of 28 - then technically, they have ocular hypertension and possibly glaucoma. Yes -I would refer - I would also ask in all the other family members as they also run a high risk of similar pressures and glaucoma.

Mind you, i would have to be certain the NCT was repeatable and not just them screwing up their eyes.

It could be a sign of intra ocular inflamation - such as Iritis or uveitis, it could also indicate a problem with the anatomy of the anterior angle - narrow angle etc.

If they had repeatable high IOPs then I would refer on pressures alone, otherwise why bother measuring the IOPs if you are not going to respond to the data?

I emphasise repeatable as NCT readings are not as reliable as contact tonometry.