Window to Heart; Ocular Manifestations of Hypertension.
10.7599/hmr.2016.36.3.146
- Author:
Dae Joong MA
1
;
Hyeong Gon YU
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. hgonyu@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Hypertension;
Retinopathy;
Cardiovascular Disease;
Retinal Vascular Conditions
- MeSH:
Arteries;
Arterioles;
Brain;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Cerebrovascular Disorders;
Diabetic Retinopathy;
Heart*;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Hypertension*;
Hypertensive Retinopathy;
Kidney;
Nerve Fibers;
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic;
Retinal Vein;
Retinaldehyde;
Risk Factors;
Vascular Diseases;
Venules
- From:Hanyang Medical Reviews
2016;36(3):146-150
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Systemic hypertension affects not only the heart, kidneys, brain, and large arteries but also the eyes. High blood pressure (BP) causes a series of pathophysiological changes in the retinal vasculature, including focal and diffuse narrowing of the retinal arteriole, opacification of the arteriolar wall, and compression of the venules by arterioles. In severe cases, hemorrhage, nerve fiber layer infraction, and disc swelling can occur. Systemic hypertension results in various retinal vascular diseases, such as hypertensive retinopathy, retinal vein or artery occlusion, retinal arterial macroaneurysm, and nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. High BP also increases the risk of development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Signs of hypertensive retinopathy are predictive of target-organ damages, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. While managing patients with hypertensive retinopathy, physicians should be aware of the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors.
