By Chioma Obinagwam
The eye is a sensory organ for sight. Apart from using the eyes to see, it can also help us to determine the state of our health.
Confiance News gathered from First Doctor, a medical doctor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telemed Online Clinic on Twitter.
According to him, having any of the following signs in your eyes could portend ill health.
1. Bloodshot eyes
2. White conjunctiva
3. Red spots
4. Itchy, swollen, red eye
5. Dry eye
6. Blurry vision
7. Flashes of light
8. White rings
Bloodshot eyes
First Doctor said the Bloodshot eyes can be due to:
– fumes
– eye injury
– eye allergies
– smoking e.g. marijuana
– infections like conjunctivitis or ‘apolo’
– eye strain from computer use
– acute glaucoma, etc
“It’s one common eye hint which most people can easily trace the cause,” he continued.
White/pale conjunctiva
First Doctor stated that white conjunctiva is a common sign of low red blood cells (anemia).
He added that it can be caused by
• Severe malaria
• Sick cell anemia
• Massive blood loss (e.g. heavy periods)
• Hookworm infestation, etc
“The whiter your conjunctiva looks, the worse the level of anemia,” he disclosed.
Red spots
The doctor stated that Red spots or ‘dots of blood’ in your eye, can be a sign of diabetes eye complication.
“If blood sugar builds up too high, small blood vessels in the retina can get blocked, swell, burst and bleed.”
“If not treated, this can potentially lead to outright loss of sight!,” he stressed.
Itchy, swollen, red
The of the online clinic said itchy, swollen, red eyes may signify allergy.
“It can be due to pollen, dust, paints, fumes or other allergens. Antihistamine eye drops can help, although some oral antihistamines can cause dry eyes which may worsen the problem.
Seeing your doctor is the best option,” he stated.
Dry eyes
First Doctor said that dry eyes can be a side effect of computer usage and some drugs like sleeping pills, pain relievers, or anti-anxiety drugs.
“Some diseases called autoimmune diseases (e.g. Sjögren’s syndrome), can also destroy the glands that produce tears causing dry eyes. See your doctor,” he said.
Blurry vision
The doctor said that blurry vision has many causes e.g. cataracts, which causes blurred, clouded or dim vision with difficulty seeing at night or “halos” around lights.
He said, “In people with high blood pressure or steroid abusers, blurry vision is a dangerous sign that warrants seeing a doctor urgently.”
Flashes of light
Seeing flashes of light may be a sign that your retina is detached, First Doctor disclosed, especially if associated with shadows or loss of peripheral vision.
“Some migraines may also cause flashes. But if there’s sudden increase in the size and number of flashes, there might be something more to it,” he pointed.
8 signs of your eyes that says your health is in danger
The eye is a sensory organ for sight. Apart from using the eyes to see, it can also help us to determine the state of our health.
Confiance News gathered from First Doctor, a medical doctor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telemed Online Clinic on Twitter.
According to him, having any of the following signs in your eyes could portend ill health.
1. Bloodshot eyes
2. White conjunctiva
3. Red spots
4. Itchy, swollen, red eye
5. Dry eye
6. Blurry vision
7. Flashes of light
8. White rings
Bloodshot eyes
First Doctor said the Bloodshot eyes can be due to:
– fumes
– eye injury
– eye allergies
– smoking e.g. marijuana
– infections like conjunctivitis or ‘apolo’
– eye strain from computer use
– acute glaucoma, etc
“It’s one common eye hint which most people can easily trace the cause,” he continued.
White/pale conjunctiva
First Doctor stated that white conjunctiva is a common sign of low red blood cells (anemia).
He added that it can be caused by
• Severe malaria
• Sick cell anemia
• Massive blood loss (e.g. heavy periods)
• Hookworm infestation, etc
“The whiter your conjunctiva looks, the worse the level of anemia,” he disclosed.
Red spots
The doctor stated that Red spots or ‘dots of blood’ in your eye, can be a sign of diabetes eye complication.
“If blood sugar builds up too high, small blood vessels in the retina can get blocked, swell, burst and bleed.”
“If not treated, this can potentially lead to outright loss of sight!,” he stressed.
Itchy, swollen, red
The of the online clinic said itchy, swollen, red eyes may signify allergy.
“It can be due to pollen, dust, paints, fumes or other allergens. Antihistamine eye drops can help, although some oral antihistamines can cause dry eyes which may worsen the problem.
Seeing your doctor is the best option,” he stated.
Dry eyes
First Doctor said that dry eyes can be a side effect of computer usage and some drugs like sleeping pills, pain relievers, or anti-anxiety drugs.
“Some diseases called autoimmune diseases (e.g. Sjögren’s syndrome), can also destroy the glands that produce tears causing dry eyes. See your doctor,” he said.
Blurry vision
The doctor said that blurry vision has many causes e.g. cataracts, which causes blurred, clouded or dim vision with difficulty seeing at night or “halos” around lights.
He said, “In people with high blood pressure or steroid abusers, blurry vision is a dangerous sign that warrants seeing a doctor urgently.”
Flashes of light
Seeing flashes of light may be a sign that your retina is detached, First Doctor disclosed, especially if associated with shadows or loss of peripheral vision.
“Some migraines may also cause flashes. But if there’s sudden increase in the size and number of flashes, there might be something more to it,” he pointed.
White rings
The Telemed Online Clinic CEO said that white rings in your eyes, is likely a sign of high cholesterol level.
He said, “In some patients, this comes with yellowish bumps in the eyelids. Older patients are likely to have such rings.”
He advised that there is need to have their cholesterol levels checked.
“There’s obviously more to your eyes than you probably thought. These are just some clues you can pick up with little or no training,” he noted.
He added that skilled healthcare providers can see a lot more signs in your eyes including cancers, nerve problems, etc, especially with the help of instruments.
“I’ll conclude by telling you it’s good to have your eyes checked at least once a year particularly if you’re 40+.
Those with existing problems like diabetes or high BP need even more checks to pick up and treat any eye issues early enough to avoid losing their sight,” he advised.
Your eyes are more than a window to your soul, First Doctor continued, they’re also a window to your health.
He said people can save their eyes by recognising these simple eye hints and seeking timely intervention.
“You can also save other people’s eyes by sharing this information,” he concluded.
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