How Hypertension Can Affect Your Eyes

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension or simply high blood pressure is a medical condition when the pressure of the blood is relatively high in arteries. It is a prevailing health issue and has impacted a large mass of people worldwide. Blood Pressure (BP) is measured in two numbers: systolic pressure (the top number) and diastolic pressure (the bottom number). Normal blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mmHg.

Hypertension is known as the “silent killer” since it usually does not generate visible signs at first. However, if unchecked, it might lead to serious health consequences.

Causes of Hypertension:

Hypertension can occur due to the following underlying factors but it may vary from person to person. The major causes of high blood pressure are as follows:

1. Life Style:
   Poor lifestyle habits can dramatically raise the likelihood of acquiring hypertension. These elements are as follows:
   • Poor Diet:
     Consuming too much sodium (salt), saturated fat, and cholesterol can cause blood pressure to rise. A diet lacking in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may also contribute to hypertension.
   • Lethargic Lifestyle:
     A sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity might contribute to high blood pressure.
   • Obesity:
     Increased weight puts additional strain on the heart and arteries, resulting in greater blood pressure.
   • Excessive Alcohol Consumption:
     Both regular and excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure levels.
2. Genetics and Family History:
   Hypertension can be hereditary. You may be more prone to acquiring high blood pressure if your parents or close relatives have a history of it.
3. Age Factor:
   The risk of hypertension rises with age. As people age, their arteries stiffen, causing their blood pressure to rise. It is advisable to have regular health check-ups after 40 years of age.
4. Stress:
   Temporary stress can increase your blood pressure for a certain period but if it remains for a long time you become prone to high blood pressure
5. Medication and supplements:
   Blood pressure levels can be raised by certain medications and nutritional supplements, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), decongestants, and birth control pills.
6. Chronic diseases:
   Certain chronic health conditions can contribute to the development of hypertension. Impaired kidney, hormonal disorders, and sleep disorders are some of the health-related problems that can cause high blood pressure.

Impact of Hypertension on Eye Health

Hypertension has a deleterious effect on the entire body including kidneys, heart, and eyes. Blood traveling through the delicate arteries of the eyes exerts a lot of pressure, which can damage the retina. The retina is a tissue layer located in the rear part of the eye. It turns the lights and images that the eyes perceive into signals that the brain interprets.

Prolonged hypertension can damage nerves due to improper blood flow, and block arteries and veins that take blood to and from the eyes. It can also lead to vision loss if you have underlying diseases such as diabetes or high cholesterol levels

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can contribute to the development of several eye conditions. Here are some common eye conditions related to hypertension:

• Hypertensive Retinopathy
  When blood pressure levels are excessively high, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina may thicken, resulting in vessel narrowing and decreased blood flow to the retina. This can also result in a swollen retina. Persistently high blood pressure can damage the retinal blood vessels, impede retinal function, and put pressure on the optic nerve, eventually leading to visual issues. This is referred to as hypertensive retinopathy (HR).Some of the symptoms of Hypertensive Retinopathy are blurred vision, double vision, headache, etc. In severe cases, it can also lead to vision loss.
• Optic Neuropathy
  Optic neuropathy arises when the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eyes to the brain, is damaged or dysfunctional. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to optic neuropathy by producing alterations in the blood arteries that supply the optic nerve. Elevated blood vessel pressure can injure nerve fibers, resulting in symptoms such as vision loss, and visual field abnormalities.
• Retinal Vein Occlusion
  Retinal Vein Occlusion is a condition that arises when a vein carrying blood away from the retina is blocked. This blockage can cause diminished blood flow and pressure accumulation in the afflicted area of the retina. Hypertension is a known risk factor for retinal vein occlusion.Increased blood pressure leads to the formation of blood clots or damage to the blood vessels in the retina. These variables can raise the chances of a vein becoming blocked, resulting in retinal vein occlusion. RVO symptoms include sudden visual loss or blurred vision in the affected eye.

Importance of Regular Eye Examination for Hypertensive Individuals

A regular eye examination is very important for hypertension individuals.

• Early Detection of Hypertensive Eye Conditions: Hypertension can cause a number of eye problems, including hypertensive retinopathy, optic neuropathy, and retinal vein occlusion. Regular eye exams enable eye care specialists to detect any disorders related to hypertension at an early stage. Early detection allows for prompt intervention and therapy, reducing the possible damage to eyesight.
• Monitoring the progress of Eye disorders:
  For people who have already been diagnosed with hypertensive eye disorders, regular eye exams are essential for monitoring the condition’s advancement. Eye care professionals can evaluate the success of the treatment strategy, make any revisions, and provide appropriate management to the patient.
• Overall health monitoring: Regular eye checkups can help the individual with the update about overall well-being. Beyond hypertension, certain eye disorders may suggest underlying systemic health issues. Regular eye exams can uncover indicators of various health disorders, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, allowing for early diagnosis and control.

Tips for Maintaining Good eye health with Hypertension

Maintaining good eye health along with hypertension is crucial for an individual. Some of the ways that can help you in this regard are as follows:

• Maintaining your blood pressure under the supervision of an expert doctor can reduce the impact of hypertension on your eyes. Follow the medications, healthy lifestyle, diet, or suggestions by the caretaker to have healthy blood pressure.
• Regular eye checkups are recommended for people suffering from hypertension to reduce complexity and severity if it arises.
• A healthy diet including vegetables, fruits, nuts with omega-3 fatty acids, and whole grains should be taken on a regular basis.
• Doing exercises/yoga or some physical activity will help in maintaining weight and reduce hypertension ensuring better eye care.
• Have a check on your sugar and cholesterol levels as they along with hypertension can double up your trouble.

Conclusion

Hypertension has a significant impact on eye health. Conditions like hypertensive retinopathy, optic neuropathy, and retinal vein occlusion can arise in people suffering from hypertension. These conditions if not treated properly can lead to vision loss or permanent impairment. So, it is advisable to have a regular eye check-up if you have hypertension.

At MM Joshi Eye Institute, we have a team of expert doctors that can help you in managing good eye health. MMJ is the perfect place for your comprehensive eye check-up and consultations.