Lifestyle and metabolic disorders play a huge role in a person's overall health as it often leads to a host of other diseases. One of the organs that may suffer a dire impact due to high blood pressure and diabetes is your eyes. Talking to the Onlymyhealth team, Dr Arun Sethi, Founder and Ophthalmic Director, Arunodaya Deseret Eye Hospital, Gurgaon shared that eye diseases are on the rise, and attributed hypertension and diabetes as one of the most common lifestyle and metabolic risk factors of eye disease.
How Does Hypertension Cause Eye Diseases?
A study led by the Singapore Eye Research Institute found that when your blood pressure is high for a long time, it can cause different types of problems in the small blood vessels in your eyes. These problems include:
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- Narrowing of certain blood vessels in the eye
- Spots where veins and arteries meet in the eye
- Bleeding in the retina
- Small swellings in the blood vessels of the eye
- Swelling of the optic disc and the central part of the retina
Explaining why this happens, Dr Sethi said, "Due to high blood pressure or hypertension, the blood vessels in the eyes become thin and start shrinking."
He added, "Sometimes eye doctors can even diagnose hypertension in people while assessing the damage in their eye."
How Does Diabetes Cause Eye Disorders?
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) stated that diabetic eye disease refers to a set of eye issues that happen in people with diabetes. These problems include:
- Diabetic Retinopathy: A condition where diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina, affecting vision.
- Diabetic Macular Edema: Swelling in the central part of the retina due to diabetes, leading to blurry vision.
- Cataracts: Clouding of the eye's lens, causing vision to become blurry or hazy.
- Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve due to increased pressure in the eye, often leading to vision loss.
"Diabetes makes the blood vessels raw, causing them to rupture and bleed. The blood vessels in the eyes are clearly visible as compared to the rest of the body. That is why, many times, the eye doctors can diagnose diabetes in a patient who has an associated eye disorder," said Dr Sethi.
NIDDK stated that if you have diabetes, it can gradually harm your eyes, potentially causing vision problems or blindness. However, managing your diabetes carefully can help prevent diabetic eye disease or slow down its progression.
Also Read: What Are The Most Prevalent Eye Disorders In India? Doctor Lists Four Eye Diseases
Understanding the impact of elevated blood pressure on the eyes, specifically in the context of hypertension and diabetes, is crucial for maintaining ocular health. Dr Sethi concluded that if these lifestyle and metabolic issues are not treated on time, then people can lose their eyesight permanently.
Regular monitoring of blood pressure and timely intervention can help prevent or manage the progression of eye disorders due to high blood pressure and diabetes. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, be vigilant about these eye diseases, and work closely with healthcare professionals to optimise your blood pressure, blood sugar management, and eye health.