6 Health Issues Your Eyes Can Warn You About

When your eyes get itchy and watery, you know it’s probably a sign that your allergies are kicking in. But did you know that your eyes can also give you clues about many other health conditions?

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This is part of the reason why regular eye exams are an important piece of your healthcare routine.

Optometrist Kristi Stalker, OD, discusses some other health conditions that your eyes can give clues about.

Stress

Ever experience a pesky eye twitch that starts up the day before a huge presentation? It’s not just a coincidence. The most common culprits for an eye twitch are lack of sleep, too much stress or too much caffeine, Dr. Stalker says.

If it gets too bothersome, try using a cool pack on your eye to resolve the twitching. “If your whole eye is clinched shut, though, that’s a sign of a problem that needs evaluation by your doctor,” she adds.

Diabetes

What seems like intermittent blurry vision could be a sign that someone has a diabetes-related eye problem. “Their vision might be better in the morning and blurry after they’ve had a big meal,” Dr. Stalker explains. This is because high blood sugar levels can cause the lens of the eyes to swell, making vision blurry.

Long-term high blood sugar levels can lead to something more serious called diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss. If you have diabetes, it’s especially important to have an eye exam each year.

High blood pressure

Hypertension can damage the blood vessels that deliver blood to the retina. You won’t notice a difference in your eyes or vision at first, but an eye doctor may be able to detect it when they look at the vessels inside the eye.

Overexposure to the sun

A pink or yellow bump on the white of the eye can indicate damage to the conjunctiva from too much sunlight exposure. “They can expand and grow further in and eventually block your vision,” Dr. Stalker explains. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses that offer full UV protection and cover your eyes completely.

Retinal detachment or migraines

Seeing a few eye floaters usually isn’t a sign of anything serious, but if you notice lightning flashes or darkness in your field of vision, this is a sign of an ocular emergency that warrants immediate medical attention.

These instantaneous flashes are different than those that are a precursor of a migraine. “Sometimes, people notice a 20-minute long flickering or sparkling light that expands in size and shrinks back down again,” Dr. Stalker explains. That can be the start of an ocular migraine, which may be followed by a headache.

Blood clotting problem

See a splotch of red on the white of your eye? Broken blood vessels in the eye usually result from straining (from heavy lifting or coughing or sneezing) and don’t cause permanent damage. “It looks very alarming, but usually there’s no treatment — it will resolve over the next two weeks,” Dr. Stalker says.

But if this happens multiple times, see a healthcare provider, as it could indicate a bleeding problem.