Hypertensive retinopathy

Definition:

Damage to the retina caused by high blood pressure.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

High blood pressure can cause vascular (blood vessel) changes to occur in the eyes. There is a relationship between the state of the blood vessels in the eye and the degree and duration of elevation of the blood pressure. By examination with the ophthalmoscope, narrowing of the arteries, lesions, and small hemorrhages can be observed, which may be caused by hypertension. The degree of retina damage (retinopathy) is graded on a scale of I to IV. At Grade I, no symptoms may be present. At Grade IV, swelling of the optic disc occurs, which can affect vision.