What is the preferred management for a patient with hypertensive retinopathy?
The treatment for hypertensive retinopathy is primarily focused upon reducing blood pressure. It is important to work together with the patient’s primary care doctor to ensure timely evaluation and management to reduce ocular and systemic damage.
Is hypertensive retinopathy bilateral or unilateral?
Typically, it has a unilateral presentation and affects women between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a systemic history of hypertension. Associated leakage in the form of exudation, retinal edema and hemorrhage may also be observed.
Is hypertensive retinopathy end organ damage?
Longstanding and therapy-resistant hypertension may cause cerebral, renal, cardiac and retinal end-organ damage (EOD). Retinal hypertensive abnormalities are correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease in general but are not included in CV risk assessment tools.
What is silver wiring in eye?
Retinal arterioles appear orange or yellow instead of red (“copper wiring” ) Retinal arterioles look white if they have become occluded (“silver wiring” ) Retinal arterioles indent retinal veins as they cross each other (“arteriovenous nicking” )
Is hypertensive retinopathy an emergency?
Hypertensive retinopathy is a common complication of systemic hypertension. Hypertensive choroidopathy is a less-common complication of systemic hypertension but can be the harbinger of a potentially life-threatening hypertensive emergency with end-organ damage.
Is there any cure for hypertensive retinopathy?
Treatment of Hypertensive Retinopathy There is no cure for these conditions, any vision loss that occurs cannot be reversed. Treatment to reduce the risks of developing retinal artery damage include: Controlling blood pressure. Reducing cholesterol levels.
What are the complications of hypertensive retinopathy?
Also, hypertension combined with diabetes greatly increases risk of vision loss. Patients with hypertensive retinopathy are at high risk of hypertensive damage to other end organs. Symptoms usually do not develop until late in the disease and include blurred vision or visual field defects.
What is hypertensive retinopathy and how is it treated?
More in Eye Health. Hypertensive retinopathy is a complication of having chronic hypertension, or high blood pressure and affects the blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the clear, photosensitive tissue that lines the back of the eyeball.
How do I know if I have hypertensive retinopathy?
Ophthalmologists recommend conducting thorough annual eye examinations for hypertensive retinopathy to catch it early. That involves testing eye pressure, checking the back of the eye (fundoscopy), and tests for sharpness and clarity of your vision (visual acuity).
What is the differential diagnosis for hypertensive retinopathy?
Differential diagnosis. The differential for hypertensive retinopathy with diffuse retinal hemorrhage, cotton wool spots, and hard exudates includes most notably diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can be distinguished from hypertensive retinopathy by evaluation for the individual systemic diseases.