Newer studies have emphasized that hypertension can lead to significant microvascular dysfunction in the retina, characterized by loss of capillary integrity, formation of microaneurysms, and increased retinal vascular leakage. This contributes to retinal edema and may precede visible retinal damage. Recent imaging studies using OCT have revealed more pronounced alterations in specific retinal layers due to hypertension. These include thinning of the ganglion cell layer and increased thickness of the inner nuclear layer, which may correlate with functional visual deficits.