A routine visit to the eye doctor may do much more than protect your eyesight. According to new research, it could also uncover a hidden heart risk that many people with diabetes do not know they have.
Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine found that blood pressure testing during eye appointments identified large numbers of patients with dangerously high blood pressure.
The research appeared in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Diabetes affects far more than blood sugar. Over time it can damage blood vessels throughout the body, increasing the chance of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and eye disease.
High blood pressure often develops alongside diabetes and speeds up this damage.
Unfortunately, because high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms, many people believe everything is fine until a serious event occurs.
Researchers recruited 172 adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were attending university eye clinics. During their normal appointment, blood pressure was measured before eye drops were given. The patients also completed a survey about their blood pressure history, medicines, home monitoring, and opinions about having this test performed during eye care.
The numbers surprised the researchers. Fewer than one in twelve patients had blood pressure within the healthy range.
Around half had stage 2 hypertension, while more than 10% had readings in the hypertensive crisis range. These extremely high readings require urgent medical attention because they greatly increase the immediate risk of heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening complications.
The study also exposed a disconnect between perception and reality. Many patients who believed their blood pressure was controlled actually had readings that remained dangerously high. Others had never been diagnosed with hypertension despite having levels well above recommended targets.
Because the blood pressure checks were done during routine eye care, doctors were able to act immediately. Many patients were referred back to their primary care doctor, some required urgent review within days, and one patient needed emergency hospital care.
Most participants welcomed the screening, with more than 90% saying it was appropriate during an eye examination.
The researchers believe diabetic eye clinics provide an excellent opportunity to detect hidden hypertension because patients already attend regularly to protect their vision. A simple blood pressure measurement takes only a few minutes but may prevent major cardiovascular events by identifying problems earlier.
Study review and analysis: Although the study involved only one clinic system and a modest number of participants, its findings have practical value. Blood pressure measurement is inexpensive, quick, and widely available.
Integrating it into routine ophthalmology visits could help identify thousands of patients with undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension and improve both heart and eye health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
