I always struggled with school work when I was younger. The words just seem to swim in front of my eyes, and I found it hard to concentrate on the page. It wasn't until much later that I realised that I was long-sighted. As soon as I got prescription glasses, I suddenly found it much easier to read and actually started to enjoy reading for relaxation. I wish I'd gotten glasses so much earlier. This blog is all about getting glasses for long-sighted kids and has some tips on knowing when a kid should be taken to the optometrist for an eye test.
When light enters your eye, it travels to the retina at the back of your eye where it is processed and sent to your brain in the form of nerve signals. Your brain then translates the nerve signals into the images you see. Hypertensive retinopathy is a condition caused by high blood pressure and causes the blood vessels in the back wall of your retina to thicken. This restricts blood supply to your retina and leads to swelling that can result in a build-up of pressure on the optical nerve.
Risk factors for developing high blood pressure include stress, a diet high in salt, lack of exercise and being overweight. However, high blood pressure simply runs in some families and can also appear temporarily during pregnancy. Here's what you need to know about hypertensive retinopathy:
Symptoms
When hypertensive retinopathy first develops, you may not have any noticeable symptoms, but damage will still be occurring. As the condition progresses, you'll experience visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or eye floaters and flashes, and these are often accompanied by a headache. Blood vessels in your eyes may also burst as pressure builds up from swelling around the retina, so you may develop red patches in the whites of your eyes.
Diagnosis
Hypertensive retinopathy can be identified during a routine eye test using an ophthalmoscope. This is a type of magnifying lens with a light attached to it, and it allows your optometrist to view the blood vessels at the back of your eyes. If your optometrist requires further clarity on what they're seeing during your routine exam, they will arrange for you to have a fluorescein angiography. This is a painless procedure that allows an optometrist or ophthalmologist to view the way blood is flowing through the blood vessels in your retina, which helps them determine if there's narrowing. This procedure involves the use of eye drops to dilate your pupils and the application of fluorescein dye, which stains the blood in your eye and makes it easier to see.
Treatment Approach
Treatment for hypertensive retinopathy involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medication to lower your blood pressure and maintain a safe blood pressure level going forward. If required, you can be referred to third party specialists, such as a dietician or smoking cessation nurse, for support as you modify your lifestyle. Medication prescribed to reduce blood pressure includes beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics. Your blood pressure will be closely monitored, and you may only need medication for a short period of time until your blood pressure is stable. However, some people require long-term treatment.
If hypertensive retinopathy is left untreated, permanent sight loss can occur. Additionally, high blood pressure is associated with higher risk of heart attack and stroke. If you are aware you have high blood pressure, or are at risk of developing high blood pressure, you should have your eyes examined regularly, as your optometrist can spot signs of hypertensive retinopathy before you begin to experience symptoms.
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