If you have questions or comments about this story, please email. If it's uncontrolled over years, it's going to cause damage later in life." "People can feel absolutely fine, but high blood pressure has a cumulative effect. "It's so important because of the silent nature of this problem," he said. Knowing the risks of high blood pressure, White said, keeps him vigilant. "They tell me, 'Look, I just don't like going to the doctor.' But their eyes are a problem, so they'll come to us." "Some people don't go for a routine checkup every year," he said. White said many people would be surprised how many of his patients rarely see another doctor, or if they do, don't always follow medical advice or don't take their blood pressure medication. These are things that can impact their lives significantly, and we have a responsibility for their overall health."īut doesn't every medical checkup start with a blood pressure check? And doesn't every pharmacy have a machine to measure it yourself? "We have to look at the entire person and the whole picture. "You're not just a pair of eyeballs walking into an exam room," he said. That increased risk leaped to 137 percent for those with moderate or severe hypertensive retinopathy.Īlthough more research is needed to confirm the findings regarding stroke risk, White has no doubt about the crucial role of eye doctors to educate patients about the need to control blood pressure. They found that those with a mild form of the condition had a 35 percent greater risk of stroke. Researchers checked about 2,900 patients with high blood pressure for hypertensive retinopathy, then tracked them for an average of 13 years. "We try to inform them about the unique opportunity we have to look at these blood vessels in the eye."Ī 2013 study reported in the journal Hypertension underscored the point. Why are you checking my blood pressure?'" he said. "Sometimes people will say, 'I'm just here to get my glasses. That is why detecting high blood pressure early – and treating it with diet, exercise and medication – is crucial, and why White says eye doctors are on the front lines of the battle. Similarly, high blood pressure may not reveal itself for decades before causing a heart attack or stroke, which earns its grim description as the "silent killer." But ultimately, high blood pressure can result in hypertensive retinopathy, blood vessel damage causing blurred vision or loss of sight choroidopathy, a buildup of fluid under the retina that can distort or impair vision or optic neuropathy, a blood flow blockage that can kill nerve cells and cause vision loss. Vision symptoms may not show up for years. And that can cause a whole range of vision issues." "When it gets really bad, we'll see some of the blood vessels start to leak, we'll see some hemorrhaging. They'll push on each other and cross, like two hoses in a confined space. "The blood vessels in the retina can become a little more stiff and hardened. "We can see changes due to vascular conditions caused by diabetes or hypertension," said White, an optometrist with Baylor Scott & White Health in Temple, Texas. He's searching for clues indicating the effects of high blood pressure, or hypertension, and what he finds could help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other serious health problems far beyond the eye. William White shines a bright light in his patient's eye, he's looking for more than just vision problems. National Hypertension Control Initiative.
Pets and Your Health / Healthy Bond for Life.Schedule a functional vision evaluation with a neuro-optometrist and take your first steps towards a lifetime of clear and comfortable vision. If a vision problem is detected, your eye doctor may recommend a customized neuro-optometric rehabilitation program to retrain your eye-brain connections and improve your binocular vision.ĭon’t let migraines affect your vision. If you are experiencing migraines or kaleidoscope vision and have ruled out any serious eye or medical conditions, schedule a functional vision evaluation to determine if a binocular visual dysfunction is at the root of your problem. This can lead to eye strain and fatigue and result in painful ocular migraines. When the eyes are misaligned, they cannot work together to produce a clear, single image. Ocular migraines are commonly triggered by a binocular visual dysfunction, or a misalignment of the eyes. The most common cause of kaleidoscope vision is an ocular migraine, or a migraine that is accompanied by these visual images.Īround 25 percent of people who suffer from migraines also experience some type of visual disturbance or aura. If you experience a severe headache with visual disturbances, seek immediate medical attention to rule out any serious ocular or medical conditions. Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You
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