Eye Vessels Hypertension, Disturbance of the Retina
As we get older, all our blood vessels acquire harder walls, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood through the whole system, especially the smaller vessels. Resistance to the flow of blood results in increased, or ‘higher’, blood pressure. The heart simply has to work harder in order to meet and overcome the developing resistance. The small vessels of the retina, or arterioles, can be examined minutely with an ophthalmoscope and changes of hardness in their walls easily seen. Because they are so small and fine they are sometimes the first to break down, so that if the blood pressure becomes very high they may leak blood and serum. When this happens the results can easily be seen on the surface of the retina between the vessels. Read the rest of this entry »
