10 Things You Can Learn About Your Health From Your Eyes

Your eyes aren’t just the mirror to your soul. They equally communicate more about your general health.

Your eyes will never lie. You may be cunning with your words, but the eyes won’t fail to give away your feelings. You can tell a person’s whole world of emotions by looking into their eyes. Your eye expressions largely depend on the state of your mind and attitude.

More than recognizing a fake smile through the eyes, you can also know a person’s health status by looking into their eyes. Yes, the eyes can show when your health is not optimum, sometimes even before other symptoms show.

Intrigued? Keep reading to learn more.

Your eyes might also tell more about your health condition

Have you ever met an attractive person at a night party? What happened to your body? Your pupils will dilate, and your breathing rate will increase. It’s all about your psychology. You can’t control your pupils– instead, the pupils will function depending on thoughts and feelings.

The eyes don’t just act as a window to your soul; they communicate about your health. Sometimes, you can easily know you have a health problem by checking your eyes. For example, Jaundice in newborn babies manifests as a yellow tint on the whites of their eyes.

Similarly, if you notice changes in your eyes, you might probably have diabetes, stress, or retinal detachment. This article discusses what your eyes could reveal about your health and when you should visit a doctor.

You could have diabetes

Refractive errors might force you into wearing glasses. A corneal imperfection is what often causes blurred vision. Blurred vision points to a possible problem with your eyes. In some instances, however, refractive errors affecting the cornea might indicate a serious illness like diabetes.

One of the common but serious diseases associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in people with high blood sugar levels and severely damages small blood vessels in the retina.

A recent study has shown that your eye lens can be affected if your blood sugar levels change quickly. The sudden change in blood sugar levels from low to normal compromises the shape of the lens hence causing blurred vision.

A study conducted in 2014 also found that 73% of diabetic patients had blurred vision. When you begin to experience difficulties with your vision, there is a high chance that you have diabetes.

You could be having allergies

The eyes can become dry and itchy at times. You might, therefore, rub your eyes unknowingly until your eyelids become relaxed but saggy. Consistent rubbing could easily cause wrinkles around the eyes, plus mild to severe soreness.

It may also increase your eyes’ exposure to air, making them even drier. When you notice the desire to rub your eyes consistently, the problem might be seasonal allergies.

You could be lacking enough sleep

Not all puffy and red eyes are an indication of infection. More often than not, if you have heavy eyes that turn red, it could mean a lack of enough sleep. Therefore, before going for antibiotics, set extra time to sleep. Note that you may need a few days of good sleep before your eyes return to normal.

It could be a sign of Jaundice

The whites of the eye, also known as the sclera, can turn yellow. That might signify a serious underlying condition, the most common being Jaundice. Jaundice is a condition that turns the skin and the whites of the eyes yellow. The skin turns yellow because of the high level of bilirubin.

Jaundice rarely affects adults. But if your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow, don’t go for a lens prescription. Instead, get tested for Jaundice. It is also worth noting that you could have hepatitis or something blocking your bile ducts.

High blood pressure

Not all cases of high blood pressure lead to heart disease. If left untreated, high blood pressure could damage blood vessels in your retina. The eyes collect light through the cornea and direct the rays to the retina. An image is then produced in the retina. The retina will not produce a perfect image if all the blood vessels are damaged.

Too much cholesterol

Have you ever seen a white ring forming around the corneal iris? Did it go away immediately? You could have high cholesterol if you notice this specific color change. Again, don’t buy eye drops over the counter to treat what could otherwise mean an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

Mental illness

One of the major causes of mental illness is stress. If you are too stressed, you may experience an eye twitch which may compromise clear vision. A recent study by CDC shows that 1 in 4 adults with blurred vision reported depression.

It could be an infection

If you wear contact glasses, you might have noticed white spots on your cornea. The white spots aren’t just normal occurrences; they might indicate a corneal infection.

Possible case of cancer

Most eye problems occur due to cataracts, detached retinas, or advanced age. However, brain tumors could also lead to severe vision problems. You might struggle to treat an eye condition while cancer slowly damages your brain.

Dementia

It is challenging to diagnose sight loss in people with dementia. Dementia patients have visual difficulties because the disorder affects parts of the brain that process visual information coming from the eyes.

Takeaway

Not all blurred vision requires cataracts or laser surgery. Sometimes, difficulty seeing near objects could result from underlying severe health conditions. It would be best if you discussed your situation with an ophthalmologist comprehensively. They can then recommend a suitable treatment method.

Whether you wear astigmatism eyeglasses with an anti-reflective coating, yellow lenses that filter the blue light, or acquire the most expensive contact lenses, if you don’t address the underlying conditions, your eyes will not improve.

Our offices are open to those facing challenges with their eyesight. Our certified specialists will be able to tell if there is an underlying health condition that requires immediate assistance. Please book an appointment with our specialist today.