Retinal detachment due to hypertension
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My 15-year-old nephew presented with a seizure in the setting of severe hypertension (250/140 mm Hg). Ophthalmoscopy showed serous retinal detachment, optic disc swelling, hard exudates, and peripapillary flame shaped hemorrhages bilaterally. MR imaging demonstrated occipital T2/FLAIR hyperintensities without restricted diffusion, consistent with PRES. After he returned to full consciousness, visual acuity was 20/200 in both eyes and Humphrey visual fields showed enlarged blind spots. Is his retinal detachment related to hypertension?
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@rajashree High blood pressure can be very harmful to the body, causing health problems including issues with the heart and kidneys. If untreated, high blood pressure can also affect your eyesight and lead to eye disease. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back part of the eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it has been high, the more severe the damage is likely to be. High blood pressure can’t directly cause retinal detachment. But if you have high blood pressure, you are at a higher risks of retinal detachment. There are other health conditions that can cause a person to be at an increased risk of experiencing retinal detachment including diabetes, sickle cell anemia and severe myopia.