Your eyes offer a great deal of information about your health. Eye specialists may even discover you are suffering from certain health conditions or diseases just by examining your eyes.
Peephole for Diseases
Although many conditions can reveal themselves with symptoms that show up in the mouth, the skin, the fingernails, and other parts of the body, the eye is a special place that can reveal many health issues. The eye is the only place where doctors can see blood vessels. The optic nerves, which carry signals from the retina to the brain, are also visible in the eyes.
What are some conditions that can be discovered by irregularities in the eyes?
Diabetes
Red spots can be a sign of diabetes. Once blood sugar level gets too high, blood vessels in the retina can burst and cause bleeding. If left untreated, this may result in impaired vision or blindness.
Allergies
People with itchy, swollen and red eyes are likely to be suffering from allergies that can be irritated by dust, pollen or pet dander.
Autoimmune Diseases
Some autoimmune diseases, such as the Sjögren’s syndrome that destroys the glands that produce moisture, can cause dry eyes. Having dry eyes could also be an indication that you have been spending too much time on the computer, or you have been taking certain medications such as pain relievers and sleeping pills.
Cancer
Ophthalmologists can detect some forms of cancer. Basal cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer, can appear on the eyelids. Irregularly shaped pupils or droopy eyelids are also potential signs of neck tumor or aneurism.
Eye Exams are First to Detect Large Percentage of Illnesses
Because so many factors are visible in the body’s optical system, over 30 health conditions can be detected by symptoms observable in the eyes. This is the reason why ophthalmologists and optometrists are often the first people to detect certain health issues.
A study conducted by the insurance company VSP Vision Care revealed that an eye exam was the first to detect 62 percent of high cholesterol cases, 39 percent of high blood pressure cases, and 34 percent of diabetes cases.
The findings showed that many patients would be unaware of their potentially serious diseases had they failed to see an eye doctor.
Something unusual in your eyes could mean it is time to see an eye specialist. Our staff at See Island Eyecare can examine your eyes and offer you advice about your health. Contact us today to make an appointment.