How high blood pressure affects vision
Complications can arise if hypertension isn’t controlled, says UCI Health ophthalmologist
IN THE NEWS: Many people with high blood pressure may not realize it until the damage has been done.
That damage occurs all over the body, including in the eyes. UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute ophthalmologist Dr. Sanjay Kedhar spoke to The Washington Post about some of the complications that arise.
“The retina is vital for good vision. Lack of blood flow can cause damage and, if enough accumulates, lead to a complication called hypertensive retinopathy, which can cause blurred vision or even loss of eyesight."
Kedhar is a board-certified UCI Health ophthalmologist who specializes in the medical and surgical management of uveitis and other autoimmune and infectious eye diseases. He is also a professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. His research focus includes white dot syndromes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis and treatment outcomes for ocular inflammatory disease.
A national and international lecturer, Kedhar is the author of more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and a contributor to several textbooks. He also participates in medical missions around the world as a member of Operation Restore Vision.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.