Damage to the eyes

High blood pressure can damage the tiny, delicate blood vessels that supply blood to the eyes, causing:

• Damage to the blood vessels in the retina, also called retinopathy. The retina is a layer of light-sensing cells at the back of the eye. Damage to the blood vessels in the retina can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision and complete loss of vision. Having diabetes along with high blood pressure raises the risk of retinopathy.
• Fluid buildup under the retina, also called choroidopathy. This condition can result in distorted vision or sometimes scarring that makes vision worse.
• Nerve damage, also called optic neuropathy. Blocked blood flow can damage the nerve that sends light signals to the brain, called the optic nerve. The damage can lead to bleeding within the eye or vision loss.