Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension means the pressure inside the eye, measured as intraocular pressure (IOP), is consistently above the normal range of roughly 10 to 21 mmHg. The condition itself causes no pain and no visible changes to sight, yet elevated IOP is the most significant modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness across South and Southeast Asia.

Medicines used to treat Ocular Hypertension

Lumigan

Bimatoprost

3ml

Utilized to manage glaucoma and ocular hypertension, indicated to reduce intraocular pressure and support long-term ocular health for patients diagnosed with primary conditions.

From $55.39 / bottle View

Xalatan

Latanoprost

2.5ml

Designed to target elevated intraocular pressure to support long-term eye health.

From $66.67 / bottle View

Timoptic

Timolol

0.5%

Formulated to target elevated intraocular pressure and to mitigate risk of vision impairment.

From $7.08 / bottle View

Travatan

Travoprost

2.5ml

Developed to manage intraocular pressure and prevent glaucomatous damage.

From $57.80 / bottle View

Combigan

Brimonidine, Timolol

0.2/0.5%

Product utilizes brimonidine and timolol, indicated to lower intraocular pressure and designed to support the treatment of glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

From $36.41 / bottle View

Azopt

Brinzolamide

1%

Indicated to manage glaucoma to alleviate ocular hypertension.

From $41.65 / bottle View

Trusopt

Dorzolamide

2%

Indicated for ocular hypertension to alleviate intraocular pressure.

From $24.65 / bottle View

Why pressure builds up

The eye continuously produces a clear fluid called aqueous humour. When the drainage channels (the trabecular meshwork) cannot clear this fluid fast enough, pressure rises. Ageing, family history, thicker-than-average corneas, and ethnicity all influence this balance. East and South Asian populations have a relatively higher prevalence of certain glaucoma subtypes, making routine IOP screening particularly worthwhile in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and India.

Lowering IOP with eye drops

Treatment aims to bring IOP to a level unlikely to cause optic nerve damage. Most people start with a once-daily prostaglandin analogue such as latanoprost or travoprost, or a prostamide such as bimatoprost; these increase fluid drainage and are among the most effective single-agent options. When additional pressure reduction is needed, a beta-blocker like timolol, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as dorzolamide, or an alpha-2 agonist like brimonidine may be added. The full range of eye care medicines used for IOP management is listed in the catalogue above.

Monitoring and when to act

Because ocular hypertension produces no symptoms, the only way to detect it and track treatment response is regular eye examination with tonometry. Anyone whose IOP is above 24 mmHg, who has a close relative with glaucoma, or who notices any gradual narrowing of peripheral vision should seek an eye assessment without delay. Early intervention consistently reduces the long-term risk of sight loss.