Overview:
Hypertension also known as high blood pressure, is a condition where the force of blood against the blood vessel walls is too high. High blood pressure can affect your eye health and can lead to a condition called hypertensive retinopathy. This causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina.
The retina needs enough blood to do its job, which is to provide good vision. Lack of blood flow starves the retina, potentially leading to vision loss and other complications.
Signs and Symptoms:
Hypertensive retinopathy often has no noticeable in the early stages. However, symptoms may include:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Headaches
- Vision loss
Diagnosis:
Hypertensive retinopathy can be diagnosed by an eye specialist during a detailed eye examination.
Treatment :
Treatment typically begins by lowering blood pressure, by adopting lifestyle changes, which includes a healthy balanced diet, exercise and prescribed medication.
It is advisable to visit your eye practitioner regularly to monitor eye health and look out for any vision changes.