The Theater Of The Eye

Various ocular components work to project incoming light onto the retina, screen like tissue at the back of the eye. The retina sends these projections along to the brain, forming a picture of what the eye sees. Any condition affecting the retina can have a negative effect on how the brain interprets incoming signals. One such disorder is hypertensive retinopathy.

Not the hyper you want

If an individual’s blood pressure gets too high, blood flow to parts of the body can become restricted. As blood vessel walls thicken, pathways for blood to travel become condensed. This limits the liquid’s ability to flow, especially in the retina where vessels are particularly narrow. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the retina and limit the tissue’s ability to pass information to the brain.

Not easy on the eyes

Symptoms rarely appear at the onset of the ailment, often showing up only after reaching a more advanced stage. Common issues associated with hypertensive retinopathy include loss of vision, double vision, swelling, a burst blood vessel, or headaches.

Did I do that?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the heart pumps blood too vigorously through arteries along the body. Blood traveling at a higher pressure can wear down and damage arterial tissue, which can cause problems in many areas over time. Elevated blood pressure is typically caused by stress, smoking, obesity, ingesting too much salt, and a lack of physical activity. The condition has also been linked to family history.

What’s my grade?

Physicians checking for hypertensive retinopathy typically tank the condition on a scale from 1 to 4. Each increasing rank is more severe than the last.

• Grade 1 – Typically asymptomatic, with high blood pressure narrowing the arteries slightly.
• Grade 2 – Constriction of the arteries is more severe in the area around the retina. There are usually no symptoms.
• Grade 3 – Signs of retinal swelling can appear along with fluffy white spots and bleeding. Symptoms are common.
• Grade 4 – Grade 3 symptoms progress, and swelling of the optic disc usually takes place.

It’s complicated

Hypertensive retinopathy can lead to a number of complications in and around the retina. While not an exhaustive list, the disorder may cause the following:

• Retinal artery occlusion – The arteries to the eye clot, preventing blood from reaching the retina. The retina doesn’t receive enough oxygen, which can result in vision loss.
• Retinal vein occlusion – Veins leading away from the retina clot, stopping blood from traveling back to the heart.
• Ischemic optic neuropathy – High blood pressure blocks normal blood flow to the eye, damaging the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends images from the retina to the brain.
• Malignant hypertension – Blood pressure suddenly spikes, negatively affecting vision and usually causing sharp vision loss. Although rare, malignant hypertension can be life-threatening.
• Nerve fiber layer ischemia – Damage to nerve fibers forms white spots that cause cloudy spots in vision.

Taking care of business

The best treatment plan for hypertensive retinopathy is to keep blood pressure in check. This means losing weight, getting regular exercise, making dietary changes, removing stress, and giving up smoking. Certain medications can also bring blood pressure down to a safe level if prescribed by a doctor. Anyone struggling can work with a healthcare specialist to develop a plan to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.