Just as your primary care physician may listen to your heartbeat and check your blood pressure to monitor your heart rate, your eye doctor examines your eyes to get a clear look into your cardiovascular system. In fact, the eye is one of the only areas of the body where doctors have an unobstructed view of blood vessels.

A full eye examination may reveal the first signs of serious heart conditions, including high blood pressure, before symptoms show up elsewhere in the body. And if not managed effectively, many of these cardiovascular conditions can lead to vision loss, too.

As part of your exam, your eye doctor may examine the retina to view small changes in the blood vessels in the back of the eye. This test can detect more serious diseases and is painless and noninvasive. Recent advancements such as digital retinal imaging enable your eye doctor to monitor all the structures of the retina over time.

What your eyes say about your blood pressure

Known as the “silent” disease because its victims often lack symptoms. High blood pressure affects nearly half of adults in the United States, while many don’t even know they have it.¹ A comprehensive eye exam, however, may uncover early signs of cardiovascular disease. Your eye doctor can check for subtle changes in the retina that result from high blood pressure, a condition called hypertensive retinopathy.²

If your eye doctor sees these changes, he or she can refer you to your primary care physician, who can recommend further testing and treatment. If an eye doctor notices these tiny changes in the retina, it could be an early indication of heart disease. By using detailed retinal imaging, doctors may spot microscopic marks left behind by past eye strokes. While these marks can show up in healthy people, they tend to appear more often in people with heart disease, making the eyes a potential early warning sign.³ By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid risk factors that may affect heart health and vision. Take care of your heart and eyes by following these steps:

• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a proper weight
• Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and soluble fiber

Consult with your medical doctor before starting any exercise or diet program. And don’t forget to schedule your annual eye exam with any in-network provider. Your eyes and heart will thank you. Learn how to find an in-network provider here.

1. "What is High Blood Pressure?"; American Heart Association; heart.org; August 14, 2025.

2. "How High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Vision Loss"; American Heart Association; heart.org; May 8, 2024.

3. "20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch"; American Academy of Ophthalmology; aao.org; April 17, 2025.