What Could Cause Retinal Tear?

This is about my husband - he's just went to A&E yesterday and was found to have a retinal tear - also had BP of 175 / 110 Today, when we went for treatment (cryotherapy) the BP was 172 / 116 taken in right arm and 172 / 104 in his left. He's 57, 6'4", 16 stones - no previous problems, no cheat pains or other symptoms at all and exercises at the gym regularly. The nurse in the eye department said they often see this and it's the result of the terrible worry over his eye, but the extent of the readings frightened me half to death - should we be worried??