Urtė Lukauskaitė¹, Deimantė Užkuraitytė¹ , Birutė Gumauskienė²

¹Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy. Faculty of Medicine

²Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Department of Cardiology

Abstract

The aim of the article is to review well – known and less – known ocular lesions caused by arterial hypertension.

Methods. A systematic review of the literature was written by analysing scientific publications of the last 5 years, selected by keywords from the database PubMed.

Results. Arterial hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for various eye diseases that impair vision. High blood pressure usually causes small retinal vessels damage, which is also called hypertensive retinopathy. Other diseases such as retinal artery or retinal vein occlusion, retinal arteriole embolism, macroaneurysms, ischemic optic neuropathy, and age-related macular degeneration are also associated with hypertension. Furthermore, the risk factor for cataracts is high blood pressure which also affects the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusions. Arterial hypertension not only increases the risk of eye vascular lesions but also leads to the onset and progression of many ocular diseases.  

Keywords: arterial hypertension, ocular disorders.