Hypertensive retinopathy is retinal vascular damage caused by hypertension. Signs usually develop late in the disease. Funduscopic examination shows arteriolar constriction, arteriovenous nicking, vascular wall changes, flame-shaped hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, yellow hard exudates, and optic disk edema Treatment is directed at controlling BP and, when vision loss occurs, treating the retina.

Pathophysiology

Acute BP elevation typically causes reversible vasoconstriction in retinal blood vessels, and hypertensive crisis may cause optic disk edema. More prolonged or severe hypertension leads to exudative vascular changes, a consequence of endothelial damage and necrosis. Other changes (eg, arteriole wall thickening, arteriovenous nicking) typically require years of elevated BP to develop. Smoking compounds the adverse effects of hypertensive retinopathy.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for other retinal disorders (eg, retinal artery or vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy). Also, hypertension combined with diabetes greatly increases risk of vision loss. Patients with hypertensive retinopathy are at high risk of hypertensive damage to other end organs.

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms usually do not develop until late in the disease and include blurred vision or visual field defects.

In the early stages, funduscopy identifies arteriolar constriction, with a decrease in the ratio of the width of the retinal arterioles to the retinal venules.

Chronic, poorly controlled hypertension causes the following:

• Permanent arterial narrowing
• Arteriovenous crossing abnormalities (arteriovenous nicking)
• Arteriosclerosis with moderate vascular wall changes (copper wiring) to more severe vascular wall hyperplasia and thickening (silver wiring)

Sometimes total vascular occlusion occurs. Arteriovenous nicking is a major predisposing factor to the development of a branch retinal vein occlusion.

If acute disease is severe, the following can develop:

• Superficial flame-shaped hemorrhages
• Small, white, superficial foci of retinal ischemia (cotton-wool spots)
• Yellow hard exudates
• Optic disk edema

Yellow hard exudates represent intraretinal lipid deposition from leaking retinal vessels. These exudates can develop a star shape within the macula, particularly when hypertension is severe. In severe hypertension, the optic disk becomes congested and edematous (papilledema indicating hypertensive crisis).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is by history (duration and severity of hypertension) and funduscopy.

Hypertensive Retinopathy (Copper Wiring)

Hypertensive Retinopathy—Moderate (Vessel Changes and Cotton-Wool Spots)

Hypertensive Retinopathy—Malignant (Star-Shaped Exudates and Papilledema)

Treatment

Hypertensive retinopathy is managed primarily by controlling hypertension. Other vision-threatening conditions should also be aggressively controlled. If vision loss occurs, treatment of the retinal edema with laser or with intravitreal injection of corticosteroids or antivascular endothelial growth factor drugs (eg, ranibizumab, pegaptanib, bevacizumabSome Trade Names
AVASTIN
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) may be useful.

Key Points

• Chronic hypertension progressively damages the retina, causing few or no symptoms until changes are advanced.
• Chronic hypertensive retinopathy is recognized by permanent arterial narrowing, arteriovenous crossing abnormalities (arteriovenous nicking), arteriosclerosis with moderate vascular wall changes (copper wiring), or more severe vascular wall hyperplasia and thickening (silver wiring).
• Hypertensive crisis can cause retinopathy with superficial flame-shaped hemorrhages; small, white, superficial foci of retinal ischemia (cotton-wool spots); yellow hard exudates; and optic disk edema.
• Diagnosis patients by history and funduscopy.
• Treat primarily by controlling BP, and, for retinal edema, sometimes laser or intravitreal injection of corticosteroids or antivascular endothelial growth factor drugs.

Last full review/revision December 2012 by Sunir J. Garg, MD, FACS

Content last modified January 2013