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Patient Resources - Eye Health & Care Blog

Cardiovascular Disease & Effects on Eye Health | American Heart Month

2/1/2019

16 Comments

 
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Cardiovascular disease can cause a number of signs and symptoms, from chest pain / pressure, fatigue, and shortness of breath to high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat.

​Did you know heart disease could also have repercussions on your eyes? 
In fact, in some cases, an eye exam may even be able to spot the signs of cardiovascular disease, before it's been detected by other means. This is why it’s so important to get both your eye health and your cardiovascular health checked.
​

Signs of Cardiovascular Disease in the Eyes

If you have cardiovascular disease or a problem with a valve in your heart, it may not be pumping blood efficiently to the tissues and organs in your body. Less oxygen to the organs, including the eyes, can lead to a variety of signs and symptoms - another reason why a comprehensive eye exam is vital for your health. The following ocular changes can be an indication of heart disease:

Changes in Blood Vessels in the Eyes
High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Different changes to the blood vessels can develop, such as a narrowing or ballooning. Swelling at the base of the optic nerve may also develop. Fortunately, vessel changes can often be spotted through an eye exam.

Cholesterol Deposits in or Around the Eyes
High cholesterol levels can increase your risk of a stroke and heart attack. If your level is high, it can also lead to the development of cholesterol deposits around your eyes. The deposits appear as yellowish lumps, which typically form on the lower or upper eyelids, as well as the corner of the eyes.

Transient Vision Loss
Transient or temporary vision loss can occur due to a sudden and brief constriction of the blood vessels and could be a sign of cardiovascular disease. For example, during a transient ischemic attack (TIA), blood flow to part of the brain stops briefly, which can also affect the eyes.

A TIA is sometimes called a mini-stroke, because the symptoms tend to be mild and usually do not lead to permanent damage. In fact, some people may not realize they are having a TIA. That is why it’s vital to recognize possible symptoms, such as transient vision loss.

In a study published in Clinical Ophthalmology, researchers examined the symptoms of 2,398 people that were thought to have had a TIA. The study indicated that 34 percent of the individuals had visual symptoms, including vision loss. About 17 percent only had visual symptoms.
​

How Heart Health Can Affect the Eyes

​Your heart health is directly related to all the organs of your body. If you have cardiovascular problems, it can lead to decreased blood flow to the eyes and damage to the blood vessels from high blood pressure. Your heart health can affect your eyes and vision in the following ways:

Distorted or Lost Vision From a Stroke
A stroke can lead to distorted or lost vision for a few reasons. According to the National Stroke Association, up to two-thirds of people who have a stroke have some type of vision changes. A stroke can damage part of the brain that processes what you see. The result may lead to visual perception problems, such as decreased peripheral (side) vision, double vision, and even blindness.  

Retina Artery Occlusion
A retinal artery occlusion involves a blockage of blood flow to the arteries in the retina. It occurs due to an embolus, which is either a buildup of cholesterol or a blood clot, and is sometimes called an eye stroke. It’s not always known why a retinal artery occlusion develops, but it is thought that having a condition, such as heart disease, can increase your risk. Symptoms of a retinal artery occlusion include floaters in your field of vision and pain and pressure in your eye. Vision loss can also occur. If you or a loved one experience concerning symptoms, such as floaters or pain in your eye, contact your eye doctor right away to discuss a potential vision-threatening emergency.

Increased Risk of Other Eye Diseases
People that have cardiovascular disease may be at a higher risk of developing certain types of eye problems. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, research indicates that people who have heart disease have a higher chance of developing vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration.

Preventing Heart Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, risk factors for heart disease include family history and age, but there are also many risk factors that are controllable. Practicing a heart-healthy lifestyle is a great way to decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus, a healthy heart can mean healthier eyes.

Consider the following suggestions to prevent heart disease:
  • Exercise regularly  
  • Don’t smoke
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Limit trans-fats
  • Eat foods high in omega-3 and fiber
  • Find healthy ways to manage stress
  • Keep blood pressure in a healthy range  

February is American Heart Month, and it’s a good time to make your cardiovascular health a priority. In addition to the tips above, remember to get regular eye exams. During an exam, your ophthalmologist looks for subtle changes in your eyes that could point to heart disease.

If you have any questions about your eye health, vision, and / or cardiovascular disease or to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
16 Comments
CMI link
2/18/2021 06:43:40 am

You can never go back to having a healthy heart again once you develop a sickness because of your recklessness in taking care of your body. Remember that anything "too much" is bad for our health. You can still pretty much eat and drink whatever you want, but keep it in moderation level. Make sure that you get enough exercise weekly in order for you to have a strong immune system.

Reply
Gwenda Harvey link
8/31/2021 10:26:30 am

I inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from my mother. it is an inherited disease and each baby born to that parent has a 50% of getting the faulty gene. I did. My " eye sickness" is not due to any recklessness on my part, I have tried to stay healthy knowing I have this gene and I had to have open heart surgery for a septal myectomy ( look it up) as I had an obstruction to the blood flow out of my left ventricle. I now have severe heart failure and am totally dependent on a pacemaker as I have total atrio/ventriculer heart block. My quality of life is poor but I am still alive to see my grandchildren. I will not live very long ..

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
6/2/2021 02:50:57 pm

I like that this post shared that cardiovascular disease can impact our vision. I do agree it is important to check our heart. I will make a point to have my heart checked regularly.

Reply
Mia Evans link
8/2/2021 11:27:45 pm

Thanks for pointing out that cardiovascular diseases would affect a person's eyesight more. I guess it would be best if I see a doctor and check if I might have heart issues. It's because I have been having blurry eyes since I reached the age of 30, so I have to be prepared in any case that I might need to be treated.

Reply
Dr. David greene r3 stem cell link
8/11/2021 03:51:32 am

Thanks for giving us information about Eye Health & Care, huge quantity of population are facing many type of problems related to eyes, so they can get all about it here.

Reply
Dhanush Sampath link
9/27/2021 03:47:19 am

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Reply
Dhanush Sampath link
10/4/2021 10:48:16 am

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Reply
Dhanush Sampath link
10/9/2021 03:22:19 am

Very delighted to come across this useful blog. Mini stroke is a warning sign of major stroke. In elderly commonly  there will be fat accumulated in the vessels(atherosclerotic vessels)  in neck and brain  there may be significant disturbance in the blood flow into the brain . If there is transient interruption in blood flow there will be momentarily stoppage of brain function and causes ischemia and mini stroke,  there will be reversal of stroke after establishment of circulation to brain. Since, I have gone through your blog and found it useful, I will be glad if you visit my blog and share your valuable opinion : https://bit.ly/2YxUj4c

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Dhanush Sampath link
10/26/2021 07:07:49 am

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Dhanush Sampath link
10/27/2021 12:51:23 am

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Dhanush Sampath link
11/2/2021 02:18:41 am

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Dhanush Sampath link
11/19/2021 12:37:37 am

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Dhanush Sampath link
12/24/2021 03:32:21 am

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Ravi link
3/3/2022 04:33:00 am

Thank you for sharing the great information.

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