eye disorders
Hypertensive Retinopathy
Diagnosis of Hypertensive Retinopathy
A doctor's examination of the eye Using an ophthalmoscope, doctors can observe the typical appearance of the retina in people with high blood pressure. The amount of damage to the retinal blood vessels tends to correlate with the amount of damage to blood vessels in other organs affected by hypertension, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. When blood pressure is extremely high, doctors may be able to see swelling of the optic disk (called Papilledema ), indicating the need for immediate treatment (see table The eye is the only organ in the body where doctors can routinely directly observe arteries and deep veins (by using an ophthalmoscope). The appearance of these blood vessels can tell doctors how hypertension and atherosclerosis have affected other blood vessels in the body. 