High blood pressure silently damages your eyes: Know how to catch it early

India Today

21-05-2025

One of the most common diseases that carries a high burden among the Indian population is hypertension. This non-communicable disease, which is known to show no symptoms, hence its name 'the silent killer', ends up developing into highly serious conditions.High blood pressure is when the force of blood pushing against the artery wall is too high. For this, the heart has to work harder to pump blood.advertisementWhen no treatment is given, hypertension can damage blood vessels throughout the body. Besides leading to health problems like heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, high blood pressure can also damage your vision.
"We know that high blood pressure affects the heart, but what we don't realise often is that it can silently damage the eyes and even lead to blindness if left untreated," said Dr. Jay Goyal, Eye Surgeon and Director at Surya Eye Institute.
When no treatment is given, hypertension can damage blood vessels throughout the body. ()
'In India, about 22.6% of the population has hypertension. This puts a large part of the population at risk for severe vision problems. Thankfully, we now have advanced, non-invasive tools like OCTA and OCT EDI that help us detect early damage in the retina and optic nerve caused by hypertension.'advertisementHOW HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AFFECTS YOUR EYESWhen high blood pressure damages the small and delicate blood vessels that carry blood to the eyes. This can lead to:Retinopathy: This is damage to the retina, the part of the eye that senses light. It can cause blurred vision, bleeding in the eye, or complete vision loss. People with both diabetes and high blood pressure are at even higher risk.
When high blood pressure damages the small and delicate blood vessels that carry blood to the eyes. ()
Choroidopathy: High blood pressure can lead to fluid build-up under the retina, causing distorted vision or scarring that worsens eyesight.Optic neuropathy: If blood flow to the optic nerve (which sends visual signals to the brain) is blocked, it can cause nerve damage, bleeding inside the eye, and permanent vision loss.HOW TO CATCH IT EARLY Since high blood pressure often shows no early symptoms, regular health check-ups are required.According to Dr. Goyal, eye specialists now use tests like OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and OCTA (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography) to detect changes in blood flow and signs of early eye damage, even before symptoms appear.
Since high blood pressure often shows no early symptoms, regular health check-ups are required. (s)
These tests are quick, painless, and non-invasive. Therefore, early detection is crucial. You can reduce your risk of eye damage from hypertension by:Getting your eyes checked regularly, especially if you have high blood pressureEating a balanced diet low in saltExercising regularlyManaging stressTaking prescribed medication to control your blood pressureHigh blood pressure may be silent, but its effects don't have to be. With regular screenings and a healthy lifestyle, vision loss from hypertension can often be prevented.Must Watch