Heart health isn’t just about cardiovascular fitness; it plays a significant role in your overall wellbeing, including your eye health. While we often focus on the heart’s impact on major organs, its influence on the eyes is equally important. Poor heart health can lead to various health conditions including hypertension, stroke and diabetes. These can impact the eyes in several ways.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common cardiovascular condition that can directly affect your eyes.
Prolonged high blood pressure can cause damage to the delicate blood vessels in the retina, leading to a condition called hypertensive retinopathy. This can cause narrowing of the arteries, swelling of the optic nerve, haemorrhages (bleeding) and exudates (leakage of fats and proteins). These signs of high blood pressure can be seen during a comprehensive eye examination, even in the absence of symptoms.
Hypertensive retinopathy often does not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. However, as the condition progresses, symptoms may include blurry vision, seeing spots or floaters, headaches or a gradual reduction of vision.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition often associated with heart disease. High blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in the retina, causing a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.
During a comprehensive eye examination your eye care professional may observe tiny microaneurysms (bulges in blood vessels), haemorrhages and swelling in the retina, suggesting possible diabetes and prompting further general health investigations.
In the early stages of diabetes, you may not experience any symptoms. As diabetic retinopathy progresses, blood vessels can become blocked leading to reduced blood supply and triggering the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels. These vessels are fragile and bleed easily and can lead to, macular oedema (swelling), large haemorrhages in the eye, scarring and even retinal detachment. This can cause blurry vision, distortion, floaters, and patchy or sudden loss of vision.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition where the arteries become narrowed and hardened due to a build up of plaque, a hallmark of cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol. This condition can also affect the arteries and veins supplying blood to and from the eyes, leading to conditions such as retinal artery occlusion or retinal vein occlusion. This occurs when a blood clot (embolism) or plaque within the artery (atherosclerosis) blocks the flow of blood to or from the retina and can lead to sudden and severe vision loss.
If your eye specialist discovers an artery or vein occlusion during your eye examination, they may recommend several general health tests to evaluate the underlying causes and assess overall cardiovascular health.
Lifestyle Factors
Many lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease also impact eye health. For example, smoking increases the risk of both cardiovascular disease and eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Similarly, a poor diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol can contribute to both heart disease and conditions like AMD.
Regular visits to healthcare providers are important for monitoring heart health and eye health. Eye exams can detect early signs of cardiovascular disease, allowing for timely intervention to preserve vision. Likewise, routine screenings for heart health can help manage risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes, reducing the likelihood of associated eye complications.
Maintaining good heart health is not just beneficial for your cardiovascular system – it is also important for your eye health. The eyes are complex organs that rely on a steady supply of oxygenated blood delivered by healthy arteries. By managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol, you can protect both your heart and your eyes from potentially serious complications. Remember, a proactive approach to health including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and routine medical check-ups all contribute to safeguarding your overall well-being, including your precious eyesight!
Original Source – https://nexuseyecare.com.au/eyes/the-connection-between-heart-health-and-your-eyes/