Arterial hypertension and the eye

 Arterial hypertension is a chronic disease of increased systemic blood pressure and is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and coronary heart disease. It is also a risk factor for various ocular diseases. Its main effect is manifested on the retinal, choroidal and optic nerve circulation. Hypertensive retinopathy is the most common direct ocular manifestation of the disease, implying a damage of retinal blood vessels due to the high blood pressure. The condition includes characteristic clinical features which can been seen non-invasively by ophthalmoscopy. In malignant hypertension, retinal hypertension choroidopathy, microangiopathy and optic neuropathy can be seen. High blood pressure is an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of retinal macroaneurysm, retinal vein and artery occlusion as well as in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Treatment of patients with these ocular conditions includes appropriate treatment of hypertension. 

Key words:
arterial hypertension; eye; hypertensive choroidopathy; hypertensive optic neuropathy; hypertensive retinopathy; ophthalmic manifestations of hypertension