The effects of high blood pressure on the eye may include vision problems and burst blood vessels. People with high blood pressure often appear to have bloodshot eyes, and this is often directly related to increased flow of blood to the tiny blood vessels inside the eyes. Over time, high blood pressure can cause many to burst and others to appear enlarged and very noticeable. The burst vessels can lead to hypertensive retinopathy, which often causes blurred vision and may eventually result in blindness. People with high blood pressure may also experience severe headaches, which tend to be directly related to the increased flow of blood to the eyes.
A person suffering from the effects of high blood pressure on the eye is typically not able to treat the problem until the high blood pressure is dealt with. Once a person's blood pressure starts to go down, he will most likely begin to notice an improvement in his vision and the appearance of his eyes. In some cases, the elevation in blood pressure can lead to permanent damage. Whether or not a person's eye problems can be treated typically depends on how long she has had high blood pressure. People who have only recently developed high blood pressure will likely not have as much eye damage as a person who has been struggling with the condition for years.
To determine whether the effects of high blood pressure on the eye have led to hypertensive retinopathy, an eye doctor must perform an examination. The examination may involve the use of dye under a bright light. This will most likely help the doctor see just how bad the eye damage is. After the examination, an eye doctor will probably diagnose her patient with hypertensive retinopathy if it is present and proceed with discussing treatment options.
Most people with eye damage related to high blood pressure will be advised to get their blood pressure under control first. This might involve both the use of prescription medication as well as lifestyle changes. Controlling the blood pressure is usually enough to treat the hypertensive retinopathy, but there are some other things a person can do at home if eye redness persists, even after his blood pressure goes down. Taking B complex and A vitamins may both benefit the vision, and a tea made from raspberry leaves could be beneficial for reducing the appearance of bloodshot eyes when applied to the eyes with a cotton ball.