How Your Heart Health Affects Your Vision

February is Heart Health Month, a perfect time to talk about something many people don’t realize: your heart and your eyes are closely connected. In fact, some of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease can show up during a comprehensive eye exam.

Because the eyes rely on tiny blood vessels to function properly, conditions that affect your heart and circulation can directly impact your vision.
 

The Heart–Eye Connection

Your eyes contain some of the smallest and most delicate blood vessels in the body. When blood flow is reduced or vessels are damaged due to heart-related conditions, your vision can suffer.

High blood pressure, diabetes, and vascular disease can all cause changes in the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye—often before you notice any symptoms.
 

High Blood Pressure and Your Eyes

High blood pressure (hypertension) can damage the blood vessels in the retina causing narrowed blood vessels, leakage, and/or swelling of the retina. This condition is known as hypertensive retinopathy.

Possible symptoms include blurred or distorted vision. Because hypertensive retinopathy often has no early warning signs, an eye exam may be the first place these changes are discovered. If left untreated, there is an increased risk of vision loss.
 

Diabetes and Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes affects how your body processes sugar, but it also damages blood vessels throughout the body—including the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels weaken retinal blood vessels, causing them to leak or close off.

Over time, this can lead to:

• Blurry or fluctuating vision

• Dark spots or floaters

• Difficulty seeing at night

• Permanent vision loss if not treated early

Regular eye exams are critical for anyone with diabetes, even if vision seems perfectly fine.
 

Stroke and Vision Loss

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Depending on which areas are affected, a stroke can cause sudden vision loss, blind spots, or difficulty processing visual information. Symptoms related to stroke may include:

• Loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Double vision

• Trouble with balance or eye coordination

In some cases, eye doctors can detect vascular changes that signal an increased risk of stroke before it occurs.
 

How Eye Exams Support Overall Health

Comprehensive eye exams don’t just check how well you see—they allow your eye doctor to evaluate the health of your blood vessels and optic nerve. Changes seen in the eyes can prompt referrals to primary care physicians or specialists for further evaluation.

Eye exams can help:

• Detect early signs of high blood pressure and diabetes

• Monitor systemic health conditions

• Reduce the risk of vision loss through early treatment

Protecting Both Your Heart and Your Vision

Taking care of your heart also helps protect your eyes. Simple lifestyle habits can make a big difference:

• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels

• Manage blood sugar if you have diabetes

• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s

• Exercise regularly

• Avoid smoking

•  Schedule routine eye and medical exams

Schedule Your Eye Exam This February

This Heart Health Month, show your eyes some love. A comprehensive eye exam is one of the easiest ways to protect your vision—and may even help safeguard your overall health.

Schedule your appointment today and take an important step toward healthy eyes and a healthy heart.