Abstract Purpose To assess the relationship of hypertension with major eye diseases and other ocular parameters. Methods The Beijing Eye Study is a population‐based study. Examination at baseline in 2001; follow‐up examination in 2006; 3222 subjects had blood pressure measurements.All participants underwent a thourough ophthalmic examination and blood pressure measurement. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, and/or self‐reported current treatment for hypertension with antihypertensive medication. Results Mean age of participants in the present study was 60.4±10.0 years. Hypertension was present in 1500 (46.6%) of the 3222 subjects who had their blood pressure measured. In multiple regression analysis, hypertension was associated with higher intraocular pressure (P = 0.005), arterio‐venous nicking (P = 0.009),retinal vein occlusions (P = 0.02), and diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.02). Hypertension was not significantly associated with the prevalence of open‐angle glaucoma (P = 0.19) or angle‐closure glaucoma (P = 0.15), age‐related macular degeneration (P = 0.73), nuclear cataract (P = 0.88), posterior subcapsular cataract (P = 0.30), cortical cataract (P = 0.10), or area of alpha zone (P=0.05) or beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (P = 0.95). Conclusion In Chinese persons, while controlling for other systemic parameters, hypertension was associated with increased intraocular pressure, retinal microvascular abnormalities, and prevalence of retinal vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy. Hypertension was not associated significantly with age‐related macular degeneration, age‐related cataract, or glaucoma