How does having high blood pressure affect vision?
Saturday, October 15th, 2022, 9:46 am
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you have probably had to make a few adjustments to your lifestyle. You’ve probably had to make some changes to your diet, and you’ve probably been told to begin an exercise regimen. You’ve probably also been told that you should see your doctor often so that your blood pressure can be closely monitored. But you should also know that seeing your eye doctor is an important part of staying healthy!
High blood pressure and your eye health
When your blood doesn’t flow as it should throughout your body, it can cause all kinds of health issues. It can damage the blood vessels in your eyes and can cause diseases such as:
• Choroidopathy, caused by fluid that builds up under the retina. This can impair vision but also causes scars to form, which leads to decreased vision.
• Optic neuropathy, which can result when the blood flow to the eyes is blocked. It can lead to bleeding in the eyes and a loss of vision.
• Hypertensive retinopathy, which is when the retina becomes damaged and your eyes bleed. This results in blurred vision and possibly even complete vision loss. This condition is even more serious if you have diabetes and high blood pressure (causing diabetic retinopathy).
As you can see, these diseases can be very serious, and this is why eye exams are so important! Your eye doctor can check your eyes for signs of problems with your blood pressure, such as spots on the retina, swelling of the optic nerve or macula (the center part of the retina), and narrowing or hemorrhaging of the blood vessels. He or she will also check to see if the blood vessels in the retina are hardened and are pushing against each other.
Having an eye exam is important so that you can see your best, but it is also important for other reasons. A comprehensive eye exam can help to ensure that serious health problems are caught early. Are you due for an eye appointment? Make an appointment for an exam at Marion Eye Center and Optical. Contact the office in Illinois (800-344-7058) or the office in Missouri (877-269-4545) today!
Category: Eye Exam
