High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common health problem. Many people know that it can lead to heart disease, but not everyone knows it can also harm your eyes.
Learning how high blood pressure affects your vision can help you protect your eye health.
One of the main ways high blood pressure affects your eyes is through a condition called hypertensive retinopathy. The retina is the part of your eye that collects light and helps you see by sending signals to the brain.
When your blood pressure is too high, it can damage the small blood vessels in the retina. This damage can cause the vessels to get narrow, leak, or break. As a result, you might have blurry vision or, in serious cases, go blind.
The longer your blood pressure stays high, the more damage it can cause to your eyes. That’s why it’s important to keep your blood pressure under control.
High blood pressure can also cause another condition called choroidopathy. This is when fluid builds up under the retina. It can make your vision look wavy or blurry and might cause scars on your retina. Even though this condition is not as common, it can still hurt your eyesight.
Another serious eye problem caused by high blood pressure is optic neuropathy. This happens when blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced.
The optic nerve is what sends visual messages from your eyes to your brain. If the blood flow is blocked, the nerve can become damaged, and this may lead to vision loss. Sadly, damage to the optic nerve is often permanent.
People with high blood pressure are also more likely to get glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease where pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve. Scientists are still studying how high blood pressure is linked to glaucoma, but they agree that controlling your blood pressure can lower your risk of developing it.
If you have diabetes as well as high blood pressure, your risk of vision loss is even greater. Diabetes can damage the retina, and if your blood pressure is also high, that damage can get worse much faster. This is called diabetic retinopathy.
To keep your eyes safe, it’s important to control your blood pressure. Healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, avoiding too much salt, staying active, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking or drinking too much alcohol can help a lot.
Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t enough, and you may need medicine. Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. Keep checking your blood pressure and go to regular doctor visits to keep your eyes and your whole body healthy.
Seeing an eye doctor regularly is also very important. They can find early signs of damage from high blood pressure, such as hypertensive retinopathy or glaucoma, before you even notice any vision problems. Catching these issues early means treatment can help protect your sight.
In short, high blood pressure doesn’t just affect your heart—it can also hurt your eyes. But with good care, you can lower your risk. Stay healthy, follow your doctor’s advice, and get regular eye exams to help keep your vision clear.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about Intensive blood pressure treatment for older adults may harm heart and kidneys and What you should know about high blood pressure medications.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about High blood pressure and marijuana: a risky combination and Common blood pressure drug may not prevent heart attack effectively.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
