High blood pressure can be a serious health concern for a number of reasons, including how it can affect your eyes. But low blood pressure can also be a cause for concern.
High blood pressure issues
Untreated high blood pressure can affect your eyesight in a number of ways. The elevated pressure can damage the blood vessels in the retina, the area at the back of the eye where images focus, which is essential to your vision.
High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension, so damage to the retina due to high blood pressure is called hypertensive retinopathy. There are often no symptoms, until it is too late. If there are symptoms, they might include headaches and vision problems.
Low blood pressure issues
Low blood pressure can also be an issue, because a lack of oxygen to the eyes can starve the important parts of the eye of the essential nutrients they need in order to stay healthy. Low blood pressure has been linked to glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if left untreated.
Regular eye care is essential
If you have high blood pressure, regular eye care is essential to check for symptoms of retinopathy, including:
- Narrowing of blood vessels supplying the eye
- Spots on the retina
- Swelling of the macula, the central area of the retina
- Swelling of the optic nerve
- Bleeding in the back of the eye
Treating high blood pressure-related eye issues
The most important step is to keep your blood pressure within the recommended normal range of 120/80. Try to achieve a normal weight, as suggested by the Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate yours here: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
Exercise can lower blood pressure to normal levels. So, too, can high blood pressure medication if it is taken as indicated. Eat a healthy diet, and try the DASH diet, a natural way of lowering blood pressure.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/dash_brief.pdf
Above all, see your doctor for regular check-ups to keep your eyes as healthy as possible as you age.
