Glaucoma is the term that refers to increased pressure in the eyeball. It is an emergency situation, and if not treated immediately, can lead to blindness.
In a healthy eye, an equilibrium exists between the amount of intraocular (within the eyeball) fluid produced and the amount of fluid removed. If fluid cannot be removed, pressure builds up within the eye. This elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma) can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in blindness.
Ocular Tonometry is the measurement of pressure within the eyeball. The tonometer is the device used to measure this pressure.
