Hypertensive retinopathy for general public
Systemic hypertension can affect the eyes especially retina even before the patient gets other symptoms of systemic hypertension. They are usually at age between 3rd to 4th decade and usually symptoms are severe in accelerated or malignant hypertension. They come to ophthalmologist with complains of sudden blurring of vision , headache, dizziness. Hypertension can effect the retina leading to retinopathy, choroid leading to choroidopathy and optic nerve leading to optic neuropathy. Hypertensive retinopathy: They go through various stages. Initially characterized by severe arteriolar attenuation with presence of intraretinal hemorrage, cotton wool spots in posterior pole usually more than we see in diabetic retinopathy. Microanuerysms are rare than macroaneurysms. They may have macular edema and hard exudates deposition in long term. Hypertensive choroidopathy: Characterised by presence of liner streaks in mid periphery as seigerts streaks and pigmented lesions ca