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Hypertensive retinopathy is caused by high blood pressure damaging blood vessels in the retina, with symptoms ranging from barely noticeable to blurred vision. Diagnosis can be made through ophthalmoscopy or fluorescein angiography, and treatment focuses on controlling high blood pressure.
Hypertensive retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye – the retina – are damaged as a result of high blood pressure. The retina focuses an image that a person sees. Retinal damage usually becomes more severe when high blood pressure gets worse or when it is prolonged. If a person has malignant hypertension, which is the sudden increase in blood pressure to a hypertensive level, they may be suffering from a more serious version of the condition.
Retinal damage caused by hypertensive retinopathy is graded on a scale of 1 to 4. Grade 1 symptoms may be barely noticed or felt. Damage in blood vessels and other parts of the retina may become more evident in grades 2 and 3, while in grade 4 there may be swelling of the optic nerve and vision may become blurred. A person suffering from a headache with blurred or double vision should be taken to a hospital immediately for urgent treatment.
An eye doctor can perform an ophthalmoscopy, also known as a fundoscopy, to diagnose hypertensive retinopathy. The procedure uses an ophthalmoscope, a device that allows your doctor to see different parts of the back of your eye, including your blood vessels, optic nerve, and retina. This tool usually allows the eye doctor to see if there are any signs that fluid has started to leak from a blood vessel or if there is a narrowing of a blood vessel.
Fluorescein angiography, also known as ocular angiography or retinal photography, can also be used in the diagnosis of hypertensive retinopathy. It uses a camera and special dye to allow the doctor to take pictures of the eye for analysis. This allows the eye doctor to confirm their diagnosis or verify the results of a treatment. The vision test checks whether blood flows normally in the choroid and retina.
Treatment for hypertensive retinopathy largely focuses on treating the underlying cause: high blood pressure. If the patient has not been officially diagnosed with hypertension, they should see a doctor to help get the condition under control. It is important for the patient to take regular maintenance medicines if they are diagnosed with hypertension to help maintain a normal blood pressure. The patient may also wish to see an ophthalmologist on a regular basis to maintain good eye health.
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