Understanding Hypertensive Retinopathy
Dr. Jay Shah, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, HCG Hospital, Ahmedabad (India) - said: “The retina is a part inside the eye that receives light signals and is a layer of tissue located at the back of the eyeball. Hypertensive retinopathy occurs when the patient's blood pressure increases, the retinal blood vessel walls thicken, narrowing the blood vessels. As a result, the amount of blood supplied to the retina is reduced and in some cases, retinal edema occurs, limiting the function of the retina and creating pressure on the optic nerve, causing many vision problems.”
Hypertensive retinopathy is relatively common in people with high blood pressure, especially those with long-standing and poorly controlled hypertension. According to a study published in the Saudi Medical Journal, the prevalence of retinopathy in patients with mild hypertension was 25.3%, moderate hypertension was 34.5%, and severe hypertension was 84.6%.
Some common symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy include:
- Changes in vision.
- Black spots in the eyes.
- Flashing lights or sudden increase in number of floating objects.
- Headache.
- Eye discomfort.
Other symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure often does not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. However, as blood pressure rises to more severe levels, a person may experience certain symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- Headache.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Out of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Tired
According to Dr. Shah, early detection and control of high blood pressure can protect eye health and overall health.
