Hypertensive retinopathy is an eye disease that develops as a consequence of chronic high blood pressure. Prolonged high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the retina, the layer of light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye.

When blood pressure is high for a prolonged period, the blood vessels in the retina can narrow, become obstructed, or break. This can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the retina, which does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly. Additionally, high blood pressure can damage the walls of the blood vessels, causing leaks of fluid and blood into the retina.

Symptoms of Hypertensive Retinopathy

In its early stages, it may not present any symptoms. This is what makes it so dangerous, as vision loss can progress significantly before the patient becomes aware of the problem. Therefore, some of the most common symptoms as the disease progresses include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Dark spots or black dots in vision (floaters)
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Double vision
  • Gradual loss of vision

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for hypertensive retinopathy is chronic or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Other risk factors include:

  • Advanced age
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Family history of hypertensive retinopathy