Over time, high blood pressure can lead to problems with your vision. Early changes include thickening of the small arteries in the back part of the eye where vision actually takes place. This area is called the retina and it’s a busy place with many arteries and veins that provide oxygen and nourishment to the vision center.

As the arteries thicken, they begin to collapse the thin walls of nearby veins. Over a long period of time, this pinching can become so severe that the veins have difficulty draining blood away from the retina. This back up eventually leads to increased pressure within the arteries themselves and blocks the entry of fresh blood. When this happens, portions of the retina can be permanently injured, leading to some loss of vision.

One other problem that can occur, with extremely high spikes in blood pressure, is that small vessels within the retina can leak fluid or even bleed. This can cause swelling in the retina that interrupts blood flow to the area. Your provider may be able to detect this problem with a comprehensive eye exam that includes dilation of your pupils with eye drops.

Most of these changes, and others not discussed here, can occur without any obvious physical symptoms to warn you. The key to reducing the risk of developing these problems is good control of your blood pressure and a comprehensive eye exam to detect any early signs of problems.