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India Today
21-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
High blood pressure silently damages your eyes: Know how to catch it early
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 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 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 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 TO CATCH IT EARLY Since high blood pressure often shows no early symptoms, regular health check-ups are 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 Watch
India Today
03-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Half of Indian kids may need glasses soon: Blame screen addiction
Spending long hours on phones, tablets, and computers has become a major concern for both parents and doctors. This habit, called screen addiction, is affecting children's health in many screen use has been linked to childhood obesity, which in turn is leading to serious health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, experts are raising alarm about another serious consequence of too much screen time - poor eyesight in a recent public awareness event in Nagpur, doctors at the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India (ACOIN), said that if steps aren't taken soon, up to 50% of school-going children in India could have myopia by 2050. Ophthalmologists are witnessing a significant surge in cases driven by lifestyle factors, primarily attributed to the pervasive use of digital devices and insufficient time spent outdoors. Currently, about 23% of Indian schoolchildren have or nearsightedness, means that a person can see nearby objects clearly, but things far away appear the Surya Eye Institute, over 2,000 children were treated for myopia in 2024 alone. The number of cases has been growing steadily, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic pushed children toward online learning and more screen use. Myopia, or nearsightedness, means that a person can see nearby objects clearly, but things far away appear blurry. () advertisementDr. Jay Goyal, senior eye surgeon and director of Surya Eye Institute, said that most children don't need surgery for myopia."Children don't need complicated procedures in most cases of myopia. What they urgently need is an understanding of how excessive screen time, inadequate sleep, and prolonged indoor activities are negatively impacting their vision," Dr. Goyal added that small lifestyle changes can help a lot, such as: wearing glasses if needed, playing outside for at least an hour every day, following good daily said that if families act now, children's vision can be protected, and many serious eye problems in the future can be Screen and Sight ConnectionThe link between increased screen time and myopia development is supported by a growing body of scientific evidence. Studies suggest that prolonged near work, such as focusing on screens for extended periods, can strain the eyes and disrupt the eye's natural growth can lead to an elongation of the eyeball, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, resulting in blurry distance vision, while exposure to natural daylight is believed to play a protective role against myopia. Doctors said that if families act now, children's vision can be protected, and many serious eye problems in the future can be avoided. () Research indicates that sunlight stimulates the release of dopamine in the retina, which may help regulate eye growth and prevent excessive elongation. Spending time outdoors also encourages focusing on distant objects, giving the eyes a break from close-up combat this looming public health concern, here are several key recommendations for parents:Restrict digital device usage to essential tasks, such as schoolwork, and discourage excessive recreational screen children engage in at least one hour of outdoor activities daily. This promotes exposure to natural light and encourages distance adequate and appropriate lighting for all near-vision tasks, including reading and studying, to reduce eye routine eye examinations for children, even if they do not exhibit any vision problems. Early detection and intervention are healthy habits, including sufficient sleep and a nutritious diet, which contribute to overall eye low-dose atropine eye drops are being used in some countries under strict medical supervision as a potential treatment to slow myopia progression, Indian experts are currently emphasising preventive lifestyle modifications as the primary line of steps taken today can safeguard their vision for years to come and mitigate the potential for more serious eye complications in adulthood.
