A recent report gives us yet another reason to ensure we keep our blood pressure and cholesterol levels down. An Irish study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology found conclusively that high levels of both cholesterol and blood pressure increased the risk of suffering from eye disease.
“Similar to small blood vessels elsewhere in the body, vessels at the back of the eye are also susceptible to damage from high blood pressure,” explains Dr Danny Cheung from the Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre at the Centre of Eye Research Australia.
“Chronic hypertension can lead to the development of several sigh-threatening eye conditions, including hypertensive retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and retinal arteriolar occlusion”
In extreme cases, disturbed blood flow causes the retina to become dysfunctional, causing complete loss of eyesight.
High cholesterol levels can be equally as damaging.
High cholesterol is a major ingredient for atherosclerosis, a common vascular disease process. In the eye, increased cholesterol promotes thrombus formation in the retinal veins, facilitating the development of retinal vein occlusion.
Dr Cheung believes that there is insufficient awareness of the connection between eyesight and high blood pressure and cholesterol by general practitioners.
“All GPs should perform fundoscopic examination for their patients who are at risk or retinal vein occlusion.
A fundoscopic examination looks at the eye through a special light. This can be determine if there is any increased pressure inside the skull, as well as detect the presence of any eye problems.
“This is important because early detection of certain retinal vascular abnormalities, such as focal narrowing of retinal venule at crossing sites with arteriole, can help vein occlusion. “In these patients, optimisation of blood pressure and cholesterol levels is imperative for the prevention of this blinding eye disease.