How High Blood Pressure Affects Your Eyes

Optometrists are checking your eyes for more than vision problems when you come in for an eye exam.  Using lights, magnifiers and special instruments, we get a clear view of the structures of the back of the eye, including all the blood vessels in the retina.  Often, vascular conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, can be detected by noting changes in the appearance of these blood vessels.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can have a cumulative effect on a patient’s overall health.  Signs of hypertensive retinopathy in the eye include narrowing of the blood vessels, hemorrhaging, buildup of fluid under the retina and blockage of blood flow to the optic nerve.  Visual symptoms, such as blurriness, dimming of vision, or headaches, may not show up for years. 

Hypertension earned the nickname of “the silent killer” because it drastically increases one’s risk for heart attack and stroke later in life, often without symptoms beforehand.  Not only are regular physicals with your primary care provider essential, but annual dilated eye exams with your eye care professional are also important.