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 Topics on this page include: |
| Atherosclerosis | Symptoms | Treatment | Hypertension | Symptoms | Treatment |
Two vascular diseases, atherosclerosis and hypertension can affect a person's vision. If patients have either of these diseases, they should have their eyes checked regularly to ensure damage is not done to their vision.
Cholesterol and fatty deposits (plaques) that build up in blood vessels blocking oxygen and nutrients and causing artherosclerosis. They can also build up in the retinal vessels leading to temporary or permanent blindness. In addition, fragments of blood clots from the carotid artery in neck can lodge in retinal blood vessels causing blindness.
Symptoms include blurred vision and episodes of temporary blindness, usually lasting less than ten minutes.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms described here, it does not necessarily mean you have atherosclerosis. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. Click here for information on emergency or immediate care.
Anticoagulant drugs are used to prevent further growth of a clot. The patient may need emergency surgery to remove the clot.
What is hypertension?
Years of uncontrolled high blood pressure speed up the normal aging of blood vessels in the eye. The constant force of the high blood pressure can make them weaken and lose their elasticity.
Hemorrhages around retinal vessels are signs hypertension is affecting the eyes and a person's vision.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms described here, it does not necessarily mean you have hypertension. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. Click here for information on emergency or immediate care.
The only treatment is to treat the underlying hypertension.
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