The Heart and Eye Health Connection: Your Eyes Can Give Clues Into Your Heart Health
- Surfside Family Eye Care
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
February highlights two important areas of wellness: Heart Health Month and Age‑Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month. While these conditions may seem unrelated, the connection between the heart and the eyes is stronger than many people realize.
Your Eyes Can Reflect Your Heart Health
A yearly eye exam does more than check your vision. During a comprehensive exam, optometrists can observe the tiny blood vessels in the retina, one of the only places in the body where microvascular health can be seen directly. Research shows that retinal blood vessels can reveal early signs of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even early cardiovascular disease (1). Because these systemic conditions increase the risk of heart disease and can affect long‑term vision, routine eye exams play an important role in protecting both cardiovascular and eye health.
AMD and the Role of Vascular Health
Age‑related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60. While age and genetics contribute, vascular health is also a key factor. Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis can disrupt blood flow to the retina and accelerate AMD progression.
AMD often develops silently, which makes regular dilated eye exams essential for detecting early changes in the macula before noticeable symptoms appear.
How to Support Your Eyes and Your Heart
While yearly exams are essential, there are simple steps you can begin today to support both the heart and eye health connection:
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Don’t smoke
• Eat a heart‑healthy, balanced diet
• Reduce stress
These habits strengthen your heart, support healthy circulation, and contribute to long‑term eye health, which are core components of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (2).
Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Baldwin O.D. so we can help keep your vision in shape.
See you soon
The Surfside Family Eye Care Team
References
2. American Heart Association: Life’s Essential 8. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8
