High Blood Pressure is a Major Risk Factor for Glaucoma: Here's What You Can Do

May is Hypertension Awareness Month. It’s necessary to spread awareness about this condition because it’s so prevalent throughout the U.S. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, about half of Americans have high blood pressure. Still, many of them don’t know it. 

High blood pressure puts you at risk for a wide range of issues. It’s linked to heart failure and stroke. It can cause kidney problems and sexual dysfunction. And it can take a toll on your vision.

In fact, glaucoma — a leading cause of blindness — is directly caused by the pressure in your eye. And research has linked blood pressure and eye pressure. 

That’s why Hilla Steinberg, MD, and our team want to lean into this month of awareness. If you learn you have high blood pressure, see us at our office on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Dr. Steinberg can check the pressure in your eye and see if you have glaucoma. 

Under pressure: The link between hypertension and glaucoma

Glaucoma is a blanket term for a group of eye diseases. They all develop because pressure in your eye damages your optic nerve, which plays a significant role in your ability to see. 

The most common type, open-angle glaucoma, progresses slowly as pressure builds up in the eye. This kind of glaucoma develops because fluid can’t drain from the eye like it should. Studies have linked high blood pressure to glaucoma progression. 

Low blood pressure can also put you at risk for glaucoma. When it gets too low, the blood reaching your eye might be insufficient to deliver the nutrients you need to maintain clear vision. If you have high blood pressure and take medication for it, monitoring your eye health is essential. 

How to protect your vision

High blood pressure and glaucoma are similar in another way: they usually don’t cause symptoms at first. The only way to know if you have glaucoma is to see an eye doctor. Dr. Steinberg offers screenings for this condition at our office. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure or you’ve noticed any vision changes—like peripheral vision loss—come see us. At our office, Dr. Steinberg can test your eye pressure and evaluate your overall eye health. 

If you do have glaucoma, proactively treating it can slow its progression, helping to protect your vision over the years. With treatment options like medication or laser surgery, Dr. Steinberg works with you to keep the pressure in your eye down. 

Call our office or book an appointment online today to get eye care and to defend against this leading cause of blindness.