Share:

High blood pressure can impact many areas of the body, including the eyes. Luckily, proper eye care and preventive health measures can minimize symptoms and prevent serious damage. Here’s a guide to help you understand the link between high blood pressure and your vision to help you stay healthy.

How Can High Blood Pressure Damage the Eyes?

When blood pressure is elevated, it causes the blood vessels to swell. When this occurs in the vessels in the retina, they may crowd the eye tissue and the nerves that run from the eye to the brain. The nerves may even get damaged due to lack of blood flow, or the arteries and veins that carry blood to and from the eyes may become blocked. Those with high blood pressure may first notice blurry or distorted vision, but lack of blood flow can eventually cause full vision loss. 

How Can I Reduce High Blood Pressure?

eye care

A doctor can prescribe medication for relieving blood pressure, but lifestyle changes may also help. For example, exercising and eating a healthy diet can improve cardiovascular health, allowing the heart to more efficiently pump blood through the body. Additionally, lowering your sodium intake and staying hydrated prevents blood vessels from constricting, which makes it easier for blood to flow through the body at a normal rate. 

How Often Should I Have My Vision Tested?

Regular eye care exams can help you catch blood pressure issues early and prevent permanent damage by making the necessary lifestyle changes or taking medication. Healthy adults should have their eyes checked every one to two years, while seniors should schedule annual checks since high blood pressure is more common in older adults. Those with hypertension or type 2 diabetes should also schedule annual eye exams since these conditions increase the risk for vision loss. 

 

If you’re ready to schedule your next eye exam, contact Blue Earth Valley Eye Clinic in Faribault County, MN. The eye care center offers personalized care for patients of all ages, and the team of optometrists has years of experience diagnosing and caring for a wide array of conditions, including those related to high blood pressure. Visit the website or call (507) 526-2222 to request an appointment. 

tracking