What can elevated eye pressure potentially cause?

Elevated eye pressure, often associated with conditions like glaucoma, can lead to damage in some eyes but not in others due to the variability in individual susceptibility to pressure changes. Not all individuals with elevated intraocular pressure will experience damage to their optic nerve or vision loss; some may maintain their vision for years without significant issues, while others may suffer damage even with slightly elevated levels. This variability can be influenced by factors such as genetics, overall eye health, and the presence of other risk factors.

The other options suggest absolutes or generalizations that do not capture the complexity of eye health. The notion that elevated eye pressure always results in vision loss is incorrect, as many individuals may live with higher eye pressure without significant impacts on their vision. Similarly, the idea that it only affects older patients fails to recognize that elevated eye pressure can occur at any age, although the risk increases as people get older. Lastly, the idea of immediate symptoms of discomfort is misleading since many individuals with elevated eye pressure experience little to no symptoms, making it a silent threat that may go unnoticed until damage occurs.