If you have kidney disease, you likely know it can increase your risk of other health conditions like heart disease, bone disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. However, there is also a connection between kidney disease and your eye health, which today’s article goes over.

What’s the connection between kidney disease and eye health?

There is some evidence to suggest dialysis patients are more likely to develop eye diseases more often than their peers without the condition. Both high blood pressure and diabetes can increase your risk of eye disease, so it’s possible that because so many dialysis patients have either high blood pressure or diabetes, that could be the cause for the link.

What are the most common eye problems for someone with kidney disease?

The most common eye problems for people with kidney disease include dry/red/sore eyes, retinopathy, and glaucoma:

• Dry, red, sore eyes may feel gritty, and these symtpoms may be a result of impaired blinking and tear formation, which can lead to dry eyes. Additionally, extra calcium and phosphate can settle in your eyes and cause irritation affected several different parts of the eye. Working with a dietician to control calcium and phosphate levels in the blood and using eye drops can help.
• Retinopathy is a condition when diabetes and/or high blood pressure damage the small blood vessels in your retina, a part of the eye. This condition advances over time, and it’s virtually symptomless until your vision is affected. Occasionally, these damaged blood vessels develop scar tissue causing the retina to detach, which can lead to vision loss or blindness and must be treated right away.
• Glaucoma is a condition that happens when fluid inside the eye builds up because it can’t drain properly, leading to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) inside your eye. This pressure restricts blood vessels bringing oxygen and nutrients to the optic nerve at the back of your eye, and when there’s too much pressure, this nerve can become damaged and lead to partial or total vision loss. Both high blood pressure and diabetes can be a risk factor for this condition, and dialysis can cause pressure changes in the eye as well.

What are signs of an eye problem?

A normal eye exam will spot signs of the issues listed above and more. However, if you notice any of the following, it’s important to seek medical care right away:

• Blurry, double, or cloudy vision
• Pain or pressure in one or both eyes
• Trouble seeing things out of the corner of your eyes
• Seeing floating or flashing lights
• Seeing dark spots

How can I keep my eyes healthy?

One of the best steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy is to see the eye doctor regularly. Because conditions like retinopathy have no symptoms, only an eye exam can catch them early. Additionally, other steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy include:

• Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Quit smoking.
• Exercise.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Take prescribed medication for the eyes as directed.

Health Systems Management, a dialysis management company, is based in Tifton, Georgia. Our company provides turnkey dialysis management services to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist dialysis clinics in North Carolina and Emory Healthcare dialysis clinics in the Atlanta, Georgia area. For more information about Health Systems Management, our locations and job openings for RNs, LPNs, PCTs and CCHTs please visit: healthsystemsinc.com

Source: Kidney.org