High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the “silent killer” due to its lack of symptoms and severe long-term effects on the body. One area often overlooked is its impact on eye health. Understanding this connection and taking preventative measures can safeguard not just your vision but your overall well-being.

Hypertension damages the blood vessels throughout your body, and your eyes are no exception. If untreated, high blood pressure can:

• Cause narrowing of your retinal arteries which can impair blood flow and lead to blockages in circulation.
• This can result in bleeding and fluid build-up in the eye, and even nerve swelling.
• These can result in vision loss to some degree.

These effects highlight why controlling blood pressure is not only vital for heart health but also essential for maintaining your eyesight.

• High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.

• High blood pressure does not mean high eye pressure. They are separate things.

• The eye is the only place in the body where we can see blood vessels directly.

• Swollen optic nerve, a potential complication of high blood pressure, may cause a “dark cloud” in your vision.