If your eye is injured, there is a chance you will develop traumatic glaucoma. A direct blow to the eye can cause bleeding or inflammation in the eye, which may lead to an acute rise in eye pressure. This condition can typically be managed with eyedrop medication. However, if the intraocular pressure (IOP) is very high or if blood remains in the eye, surgical treatment may be required.

If an eye is hit hard enough to cause bleeding in the front part of the eye, this is called a hyphema. A hyphema increases the possibility of a rise in IOP. Various medications can bring the pressure down to a safe zone until the blood decreases or disappears.

In cases of a hyphema, there is also a chance of a future increase in IOP. The chance of developing elevated IOP and glaucoma following a hyphema is thought to be approximately 8% over a patient’s lifetime. Therefore, anyone who has had eye trauma should be sure to have intraocular pressure checks every year. If your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) notes an increase in your eye pressure, he or she can find ways to control it.

(c) 2007 The American Academy of Ophthalmology