May is Blood Pressure Awareness Month

Did you know that your eyes can reveal a lot about your overall health, including your blood pressure? May is Blood Pressure Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to talk about how high blood pressure can silently affect your vision and eye health.

What High Blood Pressure Can Do to Your Eyes

High blood pressure (hypertension) doesn’t just affect your heart, it can impact your eyes in several serious ways, including:

• Hypertensive retinopathy: This occurs when high blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the retina. It can cause blurred vision or even vision loss.
  
  

• Choroidopathy: Fluid buildup under the retina caused by leaking blood vessels can distort vision.
  
  

• Optic neuropathy: Blocked blood flow can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision problems or even blindness.
  
  

What You Can Do

• Monitor your blood pressure regularly, especially if you’re at risk.
  
  

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eating well, exercising, and avoiding tobacco can go a long way in protecting both your heart and your eyes.
  
  

• Schedule regular eye exams: We can detect signs of high blood pressure early through a comprehensive eye exam, sometimes before other symptoms appear.
  
  

Your eyes aren’t just windows to your soul, they’re windows to your health. This May, make your vision and your blood pressure a priority.

Our optometrists have been providing comprehensive eye care for the entire family for over 40 years in Wichita, KS and Newton. Need an eye exam? We have three convenient locations! Contact us to schedule your visit.