swollen at back of eye

At an optician appointment yesterday, i was told there was some pressure at the back on one eye and to return in one year for a check up rather than wait two years. Why would I have pressure at the back of my eye?
many thanks

[Forum-OD-MP]

the optician is likely talking about raised intra-ocular pressure, a significant risk factor for glaucoma & blindness.  how "high" is your pressure?  depending on how your optic nerve looks, it is generally accepted that any pressure over 22 mmHg or so probably needs further testing.

as to "why" you could have raised intraocular pressure, there are many possible causes, most of which deal with reduced drainage of aqueous fluid.  to make a long story short, your eye is a closed system...like a balloon, except filled with fluid.  there is a place where the fluid is produced (ciliary body) and a place where it is drained (the "angle").  if something causes the drainage angle to be clogged or smaller or somehow less efficient, the pressure will rise and cause nerve fibers to be mechanically crushed.  the propencity for having raised IOP is sometimes inherited.

[Eye Guy]

I didn't know optitians did eye exams.  Are you sure the optometrist didn't do a non-contact tonometry (air puff test) or applination tonometry (blue light w/numbing drops) pressure check.  If your pressure was suspect (22+) I wonder why you were not given a visual field test, or a better explanation from the eye doctor about ocular hypertension/glaucoma.  

Are you over 40, have a family history of glaucoma?  What did they telly you about the optic nerve? (cup/disc ratio)

It's sounds like you have a few questions to be answered before you just wait a year.  The Forum doctor was not too concerned based on your post because he knew the pressure was not that high, but there are patients with low tension glaucoma that should be ruled out with these other tests I mentioned.

These days the thickness of your cornea comes into play also.  This is measured by corneal pachymetry, a quick in office test done by  the optometrist, or ophthalmologist.  CHeck it out, and ask more questions!

[Ag-i-doc]

the original poster is overseas.  Europe.

[jojo15]

I had an eye puff test and they looked into my eyes closely with that bright light thingy aswell as the usual optician test. Im in my 30's and there is no family history of glaucoma. they said the pressure was raisied and to keep an eye on it, thus why to go back in one year. I didn't know anything about it so didn't ask any such question. Just one further question, ag-i-doc, whay have you added that I live overseas?
many thanks,
jojo

[Ag-i-doc]

no one in the U.S. gets an eye exam by an "optician", its illegal.  but it is very common in Canada and especially Europe.  i was assuming based on your wording.  sorry if i was incorrect!

[jojo15]

Thats ok. I live in Ireland by the way.
Regards

[Eye Guy]

I learned something new today, thanks Ag-i-doc.

[I.M.O.]

Hi,
the optometrist in australia are able to do an eye exam as well. i think that they use the air-puff method.

i would have thought that there would be more investigation (such as those mentioned by eyeguy) if the pressure of one eye was higher than the other? would there be a cause for one eye's IOP to be higher than the other?
What is the cup to disc ratio? is there any damage to the optic nerve? is there any information that could be given to you about the condition that the optician thinks you may have.
i would be asking the optician or whomever you may be seeing more questions.

:O)