How High Blood Pressure Affects Your Eyes

Having high blood pressure can cause additional health problems all over your body, and your eyes are no exception. If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor has most likely recommended that you visit an eye doctor, like Cripe Stephens & Stickel, more often. If you're wondering why and how high blood pressure puts your vision at risk, keep reading to learn more.

Constricted Veins

When your blood pressure elevates above healthy, normal levels, problems can occur with the veins and arteries throughout the body. Generally, blood pressure increases in order to more effectively push blood through the body, but it can cause the opposite problem, as well. In the eyes, the veins and arteries that enter and exit the eyes often become constricted due to high blood pressure. This means that the blood flow to your eyes is limited. All of the parts of your eye are highly dependent upon blood and the oxygen that blood carries, but your retinas - the part of the eye that processes the light you see - is particularly vulnerable to damage from constricted veins.

Retinal Damage

When your veins in your eyes become constricted, the retinas can begin to detach from the rest of the eye. At first, this may make the images you look at seem farther away, or a bit dim. Over time, however, if the problem is left untreated, it can worsen. In the end, retinas can completely detach from the eye, meaning that despite the fact that the rest of your eye is receiving light and images, the retina won't be able to receive the light to convert it into an image your brain can understand. In the end, you may lose your vision entirely.

See A Doctor

It's important to understand that the best way to prevent retinal detachment is to keep your blood pressure under control. However, regular eye checkups can also determine if your retinas and the other parts of the eyes are healthy. If any retinal detachment is detected early on, your doctors can work together to control your blood pressure and repair the damage before it becomes severe. If caught early, retinal detachment can be reversed, and your vision can be restored.

High blood pressure is a difficult ailment to deal with since it affects every part of the body that's connected to the blood supply. If your doctor has suggested that you begin seeing an eye doctor regularly to monitor your eye health, make sure to listen. Doing so could save your vision someday.