Which of the following is a recognized cause of retinal hemorrhages?

• A. Systemic hypertension (old cats)
• B. Cataracts
• C. Hyperopia
• D. Mydriasis

Answer: (A)

Retinal hemorrhages are most consistently linked to damage of retinal vessels from systemic hypertension, which causes hypertensive retinopathy in older cats. The high blood pressure weakens and ruptures retinal vessels, leading to small bleeds that can appear as hemorrhages in the fundus. You may also see other signs like cotton-wool spots or subretinal changes in this setting.

Cataracts involve the lens and do not affect the retinal vessels, so they don’t cause retinal hemorrhages. Hyperopia is a refractive error affecting how light focuses in the eye, not the retinal vasculature. Mydriasis is just pupil dilation and does not by itself induce retinal bleeding.

So, the recognized cause in older cats is systemic hypertension. If retinal hemorrhages are observed, evaluating blood pressure and underlying systemic disease is appropriate.