Hypertensive patients in eye OPD, TUTH

Abstract

A retrospective hospital-based analysis of cases with systemic hypertension attending the eye out-patient department (OPD), TU Teaching Hospital (TUTH) was done. Out of 56 cases, 30 had hypertensive fundus changes. Twenty per cent of hypertensive patients of less than 6 months duration had fundus changes. Among them 26.6% were not aware that they were hypertensives. More females (40%) had severe grade of hypertensive fundus changes and more of them (43.3%) had uncontrolled hypertension than males. Branch retinal vein occlusion (23.3%) was the most commonly encountered ocular complication of hypertension. Diminution of visual acuity (40%) and a headache (36.7%) were common presenting features of hypertensive patients with fundus changes.