My blood pressure is high. Will I get hypertensive retinopathy?

For individuals who have had long-standing high blood pressure or blood pressure that has been "out of control" for a period of time, hypertensive retinopathy can result. Simply stated, hypertensive retinopathy occurs when the high blood pressure condition starts to effect the retina of the eye. Most commonly the effects are retinal hemorrhaging or bleeding (inside the eye), as vascular changes occur in the retina. If left untreated, the condition does threaten sight. Usually keeping the person's blood pressure under control goes a long way toward improving this ocular condition. However, some cases require treatment directly to the eye's retina with a laser.

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