High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Most people know that high blood pressure can cause heart disease and strokes, but few realise that high blood pressure can affect your eyes. The health of your eyes and your vision is directly related to your overall health, and neglecting high blood pressure can have severe consequences for your eyesight.
If you’re curious about how this condition can affect your eyes and what you can do to protect your vision, keep reading. We’ll explain everything in simple language so you can understand why eye health should never be taken for granted.
Understanding High Blood Pressure
Before we jump into the details, let’s first understand what we mean by high blood pressure. Blood pressure is considered the force exerted by blood pushing against your artery walls. If your blood pressure is frequently too high, it can actually damage your arteries over time. That extra pressure makes your heart work harder to pump blood through your body.
Doctors normally record blood pressure with two numbers, as in 120/80 mmHg (millimetres of mercury). Systolic pressure is the first number, and diastolic is the second number. If these numbers go high repeatedly, as happens with blood pressures at 140/90 mmHg or above, then a person suffers from high blood pressure.
How Does High Blood Pressure Impact Your Eyes?
Your eyes are crisscrossed by tiny and fragile blood vessels. Should your pressure rise too much, such delicate blood vessels get broken. Here are some effects of high pressure on eyes and vision:
1. Hypertensive Retinopathy
The retina is that part of your eye where light is processed, and then signals are sent to the brain to enable you to see. High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the retina. This condition is called hypertensive retinopathy.
When this occurs, the blood vessels in the retina may thicken, narrow, or even leak. In extreme cases, the retina can swell or bleed. You may not experience symptoms initially, but as the damage worsens, you can experience blurry vision, reduced vision, or even vision loss.
2. Choroidopathy
The choroid is a vascular layer that lies beneath the retina. Elevated blood pressure can cause fluid to accumulate in the choroid, resulting in choroidopathy. Fluid accumulation under the retina can cause a condition that leads to blurry vision and, in a few cases, scarring that could result in permanent vision complications.
3. Optic Neuropathy
The optic nerve is important for vision since it transmits signals from the eyes to the brain. High blood pressure reduces blood flow to the optic nerve, thus causing damage known as optic neuropathy. This condition results in sudden vision loss that sometimes can be permanent.
4. Eye Strokes
Just like strokes can happen in the brain, they can also happen in the eye. An eye stroke occurs when the blood flow to the retina is blocked. This can cause sudden and severe vision loss. High blood pressure increases the risk of eye strokes because it damages the blood vessels and increases the chances of clots forming.
Symptoms to Watch For
Sometimes, hypertension causes effects in your eyes that have no visible symptoms. However, when you have the following symptoms, it would be a good idea to visit an eye doctor or healthcare provider right away:
• Blurred vision
• Sudden loss of vision
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Headaches, especially around the eyes
• Double vision
Eye check-ups can be used to monitor early signs of hypertensive retinopathy and other eye problems before they worsen.
Protecting Your Eyes from High Blood Pressure
The good news is that you can protect your vision by managing your blood pressure and adopting healthy habits. Here are some practical tips:
1. Control Your Blood Pressure
The most important step is to keep your blood pressure within a healthy range. You can achieve this by:
• Taking prescribed medications if your doctor recommends them.
• Reducing salt intake.
• Consumption of a healthy diet that contains a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Regular exercise.
• Stress management.
2. Scheduling Regular Eye Exams
Routine eye exams may detect early damage from high blood pressure. Your eye doctor can check the blood vessels in your eyes and alert you to any problems.
3. Take Breaks to Rest Your Eyes
If you spend a lot of time looking at screens, your eyes can become tired. Learning how to relieve tired eyes naturally can help you avoid discomfort. Simple practices like the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes) can give your eyes much-needed breaks.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Poor sleep can affect your blood pressure as well as your eye health. Sleep should always be at least 7 to 8 hours to give your body and your eyes a chance to rejuvenate.
5. Apply Dark Circle Corrector
Lack of sleep and eye strain can sometimes cause dark circles under your eyes. A quality product, such as the Best Dark Circle Corrector, can help reduce dark circles and brighten your appearance. Pairing this with good eye care habits ensures you’re giving your eyes the attention they deserve.
Conclusion
High blood pressure is not only a heart condition but can also significantly affect your eyes. Damage to your vision may occur if conditions like hypertensive retinopathy, choroidopathy, and optic neuropathy are left uncontrolled. To ensure your eyes are in good condition, manage your blood pressure and live healthily.
Do not neglect your eye health. Regular eye exams, a healthy diet, and simple habits like learning how to relieve tired eyes naturally go a long way in keeping your vision sharp. Your eyes are precious – take care of them!
