OPHTHALMOLOGY

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Can high blood pressure affect my eyes or vision? High blood pressure, also called hypertension or HBP, affects 70 million Americans which equates to 29% of the population or one out of every three adults. HBP increases your risk for dangerous health conditions throughout the body including the eyes. Often times, signs of systemic problems of the body will first show up in the eyes and in fact, many people discover they have HBP because their eye doctor noticed the signs and changes during a routine eye exam. When you are diagnosed with HBP, your primary doctor may suggest a dilated eye examination. Dilating the eyes allows the eye doctor to look at and evaluate the small blood vessels, or capillaries, in the back of your eye. Using an ophthalmoscope, an instrument that projects light to examine the back layer of the eye, the doctor will look for signs of damage from HBP that can include narrowing or thickening of the blood vessels, fluid leaking from the vessels, spots on the retina known as cotton wool spots and exudates, swelling of the macula or the optic nerve, and bleeding in the back of the eye. Damage to the blood vessels in the eye is called retinopathy and may lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision, loss of vision, optic nerve damage, optic neuropathy, stroke, and brain damage. If you have both diabetes and HBP, there is an even greater risk for retinopathy. HBP damage is cumulative; the longer it is untreated, the higher the likelihood of permanent vision problems.

Interestingly, blood pressure and eye pressure (IOP or intraocular pressure) vary independently. Controlling blood pressure does not mean that one’s IOP is controlled but studies have shown that patients with HBP have an increased risk for glaucoma. To help prevent damage from HBP, keep your blood pressure under control by reaching and maintaining optimal weight, adhering to the diet recommended by your doctor, exercise regularly, and take blood pressure medications as prescribed. In addition, visit your eye doctor on a regular basis, or more often as recommended, for dilated exams and diagnostic testing.