what your eyes could indicate about your health

8/13/2019 What Your Eyes Could Indicate About Your Health

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What your eyes could indicate about your health

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Dr Poonam Kuruganti,Aug 23, 2012 at 12:37 PM

Tags:beta-carotene,Bloody eyes,Carrot,Eye disorder,Eye symptoms,Eyes,Hypermetropia,Macular

degeneration,Migraine,Myopia

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There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect. - G. K. Chesterton

Eyeshave inspired poetry and philosophyfor time immemorial and are arguably the most attractive human

facial feature. The cosmetic industry thrives on enhancing the colour, shape and size of (a womans) eyes,

eyelids, eyelashes and eyebrows. In simple termsthe much-celebrated and decorated eyes- a window to the

soul - receive information as light and express information as a spectrum of emotions.
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Each eye is composed of 3 layersof which the partially visible,

outermost layer is made up of the corneaand sclera.Irisis the colourful component of the middle layer and the

ret inaforms a major component of the innermost layer. The eyes are connected to the brain (optic lobe) by a pair

of opt ic nervesthat relay messages between the eyes and brain.

Any visit to the doctor includes a general eye check-up which one should undergo at least once or twice a year. A

visit to the optician or ophthalmologist involves a series of tests that assess the internal health of the eyes

which may further provide evidence of other diseases. More than just being a window to the soul here are some

outward clues your eyes can give for potentially serious disease(s) and condition(s).

No.Observation (Sign or Symptom) Potential Disease or Condition

1 Blind spot

Accompanied with flickering lights or wavy lines

Ocular migraine (may lead to loss of vision)

2 Bloody eye(s)

White-of-the-eye (sclera) has red spots

High blood pressure, Clotting disorder

3 Brown spot(s)

A bump with blood vessels, often on the lower eyelid

Tumour (abnormal growth which may be

cancerous)

4 Bug eye(s)

Bulging eyes with swollen eye tissue

Thyroid disease (hyperactive thyroid)

5 Bumpy yellowish patches

Small yellow spots on the eyelid

High Cholesterol

6 Burning eyes

Stinging in the eyes with blurred vision during computer

Computer vision syndrome (CVS)


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use

7 Cloudy eye(s)

Clouding of the lens with hazy vision

Cataracts (may cause blindness), Tumour,

Diabetes, Medication side-effect

8 Colour confusion

Reds and greens are unclear

Colour blindness

9 Crossed eye(s)

One or both eyes turn inwards

Intraocular tumour, Neurologic disorder

10 Double vision

Seeing double images

Stroke (sudden), Multiple Sclerosis

(neurodegeneration)

11 Droopy eyes

Eyelids are droopy

Brain tumour, Myasthenia gravis (neuromuscular

disorder)

12 Dry eye(s)

Especially in 40+ women with autoimmune conditions

and affecting the mouth such that absence of saliva

makes chewing and swallowing difficult

Sjogrens syndrome (immune cells damage tears

and saliva producing glands)

13 Golden brown or greenish yellow ring

Coloured ring on the cornea, surrounding the iris

Wilsons disease (excess copper collects in

tissues, may lead to liver disease)

14 Grey or milky-white ring

Coloured ring on the cornea, surrounding the iris

High cholesterol and triglycerides, Increased heart

attack and stroke risk

15 Increased eye-gunk

Eyelid edges are red and itchy

Dandruff, Acne rosacea

16 Large eye

One eye appears larger (generally in children)

Glaucoma (damaged optic nerve), Tumour,

Infection

17 Persistent stye

Reddish lumps, on the eyelid, present for more than 3

months

Tumour, possibly cancerous


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18 Pink eye

White-of-the-eye (sclera) is pink or light-red

Conjunctivitis (eye infection)

19 Pupil size different

Different size pupils and droopy eyelids

Horners syndrome (nervous system disorder),

Neck aneurysms (blood-filled bulge in blood

vessel) and tumours

20 Red, itchy eyes

Along with sneezing, coughing, sinus congestion or runny

nose

Allergic reaction

21 Unable to close eye(s) or control tears

Often one side of the face is weak and droops

Bells palsy (facial paralysis due to dysfunctional

cranial nerve VII)

22 Vanishing eyebrows

Outer part of eyebrows disappear

Thyroid disease (underactive thyroid)

23 Yellow eye(s)

White-of-the-eye (sclera) is yellow

Liver diseases such as jaundice, hepatitis and

cirrhosis

Common eye disorders, other than short-sightedness (myopia) and long-sightedness (hypermetropia) include

macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes and weakened night vision. Myopia and hypermetropia are

corrected by wearing eye glasses or contact lenses but other eye disorders require medication and/or surgical

treatment.

Most of us are aware of the direct relationship between vitamin A,plus its cousin beta-carotene, and good

vision. Vitamin A and beta carotene belong to a class of plant food compounds known as carotenoidswhich are

strong antioxidants.Other nutrients essential for good eye health include antioxidant-rich (particularly high-

vitamin C) foods.

Food Nutrient

Carrot, Sweet Potatoes, Yams Beta-carotene

Mangoes, Apricots, Pumpkin Beta-carotene

Spinach and other green leafy vegetables Carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin)

Beans Vitamin C, Antioxidant, Zinc


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Broccoli Vitamin C, Antioxidant, Carotenoids (lutein and

zeaxanthin)

Fish (salmon, sardines, tuna and mackerel) Omega-3 fatty acids

Fortified Milk and Cereals Vitamin A

Besides good nutrition, the following preventive habits further protect eyes:

Go for regular eye exams including complete dilated eye test to detect early-stage diabetic eyedisorder and macular degeneration.

Be aware of eye health disorders within the family to proactively protect against hereditary eyeconditions.

Maintain healthy body weight to reduce the probability of developing diabetic eye or glaucoma.

Protect your eyes in hazardous environments (under extreme sunlight, sports, etc.) by usingsunglasses and safety gear such as shields and eye guards.

Stop smoking since it increases the possibility of eye-damage including blindness.

Reduce eye-strain by frequently resting your eyes using the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, for 20seconds, look at a 20 feet distance away from you.

Avoid eye-infections by always washing your hands before touching your eyes or contactlenses.

Take good care of your eyes.

The eye speaks with an eloquence and truthfulness surpassing speech. It is the window out of which the winged

thoughts often fly unwittingly. It is the tiny magic mirror on whose crystal surface the moods of feeling fitfully play,

like the sunlight and shadow on a still stream. Henry Theodore Tuckerman

Courtesy

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what your eyes could indicate about your health

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