Hypertension and Eye Health: What You Should Know

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, and while you may think about it largely in relation to your heart health, it can also significantly impact your eye health as well. Below, we’ll look at the symptoms of hypertension and what you can do to reduce your odds of more serious eye disorders down the line.

What Does Hypertension Do to the Blood?

The more pressure in your blood, the more it impacts the blood vessels. To cope with the stress, vessels may start to narrow or leak, which can weaken your blood vessels. Reduced blood flow to the eye is also called hypertensive retinopathy, which essentially affects how the light-sensitive tissues process images.

Symptoms of Hypertension Eye Disorders

The most common symptom is a major change in vision, whether it becomes blurry or distorted by anything from floaters to light flashes. If hypertension goes untreated, an eye doctor in South Hills, PA will tell you that it can lead to nerve damage and, in the worst-case scenario, blindness.

If you want to avoid hypertension, the best thing you can do is maintain a healthy lifestyle, which may mean anything from eating better to exercising more to getting more sleep. While high blood pressure may be associated with stress and salt, these are far from the only two culprits. If you have a history of high-blood pressure or you’re not seeing the results you want from your lifestyle changes, you can talk to a primary care physician or cardiologist to learn more about different medications that can help you manage your blood pressure.

Eye Doctors in South Hills, PA

If you’re looking for an eye doctor who can help you manage your eye health in South Hills, PA, contact the team at Lappen Eye Care today to make an appointment!