Malignant Hypertension Effect on the Eye

Ever wonder what the doctor is looking for when she shines the light into your eyes, up close and personal?This is what she sees if the patient has severe hypertension. The retina shows blurring of the optic disc (in the middle left) and the white areas are called "cotton wool spots". The blurry part at the bottom is a partial retinal detachment. The patient's blood pressure was 220/150.