Know your numbers week: How high blood pressure affects your eyes
With Blood Pressure UK's Know Your Numbers! Week running from 7 to 13 September 2026, it is the perfect time to talk about why monitoring your blood pressure is so important - not just for your heart, but for your vision, too.
While most of us associate high blood pressure (hypertension) with heart attacks or strokes, its effect on eye health is often overlooked. Here at Barracloughs, we regularly see the physical impact that high blood pressure has on the delicate structures at the back of the eye.
The "silent killer" in the UK
High blood pressure is incredibly common, yet notoriously difficult to spot without a test. Consider these recent UK statistics:
- Widespread prevalence: Around 30% of adults in the UK are estimated to have high blood pressure.
- Millions undiagnosed: An estimated 5.5 million people in England may be living with undiagnosed hypertension.
- Lack of symptoms: Because it rarely presents any early warning signs, it has earned the nickname the "silent killer". In fact, nearly half (49%) of UK adults mistakenly believe that high blood pressure comes with clear symptoms.
Because you might not feel any different when your blood pressure is high, routine health checks - including comprehensive eye examinations - are absolutely vital.
The link between blood pressure and your vision
The retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye) relies on a complex, delicate network of tiny blood vessels. When your blood pressure is constantly high, the force of the blood damages the walls of these vessels. During a routine eye test, our optometrists can view these blood vessels directly—one of the only places in the human body where this is possible without surgery. This means an eye examination at Barracloughs can sometimes be the very first time someone discovers they have high blood pressure.
One You East Sussex offer free NHS health checks, which include a blood pressure check. Book a 30-minute health screening with a trained health coach at a time and place that suits you.
When blood pressure remains unmanaged, it can lead to several serious sight-threatening conditions:
Chronically high blood pressure causes the blood vessels in the retina to narrow, thicken, and restrict blood flow. In more advanced stages, these damaged vessels can begin to leak blood or fluid into the eye, leading to swelling (macular oedema) and potential vision loss.
Hypertension significantly increases the risk of a retinal vein occlusion. This occurs when a blood clot blocks the main vein draining blood from the retina, which can cause sudden and severe visual impairment.
Restricted blood flow does not just damage the retina; it can also starve the optic nerve of vital nutrients, leading to optic neuropathy and permanent sight damage. Furthermore, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure can drastically accelerate the worsening of diabetic retinopathy.
Book your routine eye exam
Controlling your blood pressure through lifestyle changes or medication is the best way to reduce the risk of these complications. But detecting the issue early is half the battle.
If you are overdue for your eye test, or if you have noticed any sudden changes to your vision - such as blurriness, double vision, or new floaters - don't wait.
Take control of your eye health this Know Your Numbers! Week. Book your next comprehensive eye examination with our expert team at barracloughs.uk/book.
