Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye complication that results from being either a type 1 or type 2 diabetic patient for a long time and the blood sugar levels are out of control most of the time. The eye complication may start with either no symptoms or symptoms that are easily missed such as mild vision problems that ultimately leads to blindness. The blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissues get damaged over time because of uncontrollable diabetes which causes vision problems.
Hypertensive Retinopathy is also an eye complication that results from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Uncontrolled high blood pressure causes the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissues to thicken. This narrows the blood vessels and restricts blood flow to light-sensitive tissues causing double vision, headaches, swollen eyes, reduced vision, or bursting of a blood vessel.
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How does hypertension cause diabetic retinopathy?
Hypertension and Diabetes are interrelated and codependent on each other. Having one disorder increases the chances of another one significantly.
Hypertension is twice as common in patients with a diabetic history than in patients who do not have diabetes. Apart from sharing various common causes and risk factors, hypertension creates resistance toward insulin and disbalances glucose tolerance levels promoting hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. This, again, methodically increases diabetes complications leading to increased chances for diabetic retinopathy.
What are the most common symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy?
Long-term side effects of people suffering from high blood pressure leads to retinal complications. Hypertensive retinopathy does not show noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Once the symptoms do start showing, they may include:
- Bursting of an eye vessel indicated by bleeding in the eye
- Swelling in the back of the eye
- Reduced ability to see clearly (vision problems)
- Headaches and double visions
For correct diagnosis, the patient must consult one of the best retina specialists in Vadodara. The doctor will recommend undergoing some tests before drawing any conclusions.
FAQs
What happens diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetes retinopathy is a condition induced by high blood sugar levels that damage the back of the eye (retina). If left misdiagnosed and untreated, it might result in blindness. However, it usually takes several years for diabetic retinopathy to progress to the point where it threatens your vision.
What is the most common cause of retinopathy?
Diabetes-related retinopathy is caused by elevated blood sugar levels. Too much sugar in your bloodstream can damage your retina over time — the area of your eye that detects light and transmits information to your brain via a nerve in the back of your eye (optic nerve). Diabetes causes blood vessel damage throughout the body.
Is hypertensive retinopathy an emergency?
A common consequence of systemic hypertension is hypertensive retinopathy. Hypertensive choroidopathy is a less common complication of systemic hypertension, but it can be a warning sign of a potentially fatal hypertensive crises with end-organ destruction.