The Silent Threat of Hypertensive Retinopathy

Changes in your blood pressure level don’t just show effects on your kidney or heart health. High blood pressure can hurt the tiny, delicate blood vessels in your retina, causing mild to severe damage to your vision. One such condition, known as hypertensive retinopathy, can lead to serious vision problems if left unchecked.

Many people are unaware that their eyes can be a window into their overall cardiovascular health. In this article, we’ll explore what hypertensive retinopathy is, how it’s linked to high blood pressure, and what steps you can take to protect your vision before damage occurs.

What is Hypertensive Retinopathy?

Hypertensive retinopathy is one of the complications of high blood pressure that involves damage to the retina. When your blood pressure is high, your arteries become hard, leading to the narrowing of blood vessels. This restricts blood flow to the retina and causes damage to its cells. In some cases, the retina may even swell. Over time, this problem could destroy the retinal blood vessels. It will hinder the functions and cause vision problems.

Symptoms of Hypertensive Retinopathy

In the initial stages of hypertensive retinopathy, the patient may show no signs of this problem at all. But when the condition progresses extensively, you will experience the following symptoms:

• Eye swelling

• Bursting of a blood vessel in the eye

• Double vision

• Headaches

• Cloudy vision

• Loss of vision

Mild to moderate hypertensive retinopathy could only be discovered during an eye exam. So, if you have high blood pressure, make sure you get regular eye exams and take early measures to control this problem. If you live in Manchester or any nearby area, you can get a free comprehensive eye test done at your nearest Specscart store.

What Causes Hypertensive Retinopathy?

High blood pressure or hypertension is the biggest trigger behind hypertensive retinopathy. If your blood pressure has been consistently high for quite some time, you may develop this condition. Thus, the causes of hypertensive retinopathy are the same as those that affect your blood pressure levels. For instance:

• Physical inactivity

• Obesity

• Taking too much salt in your food

• High-stress lifestyle

• High alcohol intake

Hypertension could be an inherited problem that runs in your family. Older people are at a higher risk of developing this problem and thus are more likely to develop hypertensive retinopathy.

Diagnosing Hypertensive Retinopathy

An eye care professional or optometrist can diagnose this problem during a comprehensive eye exam. They would use an ophthalmoscope to examine the back of your eye. The doctor would look for the following signs to diagnose hypertensive retinopathy:

• Narrowing of retinal blood vessels

• Fluffy white patches on the retina

• Swelling and thickening of the macula

• Bleeding in the back of the eye

In some rare cases, a test called fluorescein angiography will be conducted to check the blood supply to the retina. This includes taking snaps of the eye before and after a fluorescein dye is injected into the body. If your hypertensive retinopathy gets to a critical stage, you’ll experience symptoms such as dim vision.

Treating Hypertensive Retinopathy

The only way to control this condition is by controlling your blood pressure. This can be achieved by introducing some lifestyle changes such as:

• Quit smoking

• Losing weight

• Exercise daily

• Making changes in your diet

• Reducing alcohol consumption

• Limiting caffeine intake

All these steps would prove to be fruitful when you are trying to control your blood pressure. Along with these healthy lifestyle changes, your doctor may also recommend blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers, diuretics or ACE inhibitors.

Wrapping It Up

Hypertensive retinopathy can have a serious impact on your vision. That’s why it’s crucial to take the required precautions early on to avoid the condition in the first place. However, if you still experience the symptoms, you can consult an eye doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment at the early stages.