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Eyes are not just the windows to the soul, they can also provide a whole other glimpse at our body’s health. Changes in your eyes’ appearance or in your vision can tell you a whole lot about what’s going on throughout the body.
Here are some signs and symptoms to, well, keep an eye on!
Blurry Vision
Experiencing blurry vision is not only bothersome but can be a sign of an underlying health condition, often indicating that blood sugar levels are abnormally high and that diabetes testing is in order. It’s important to pay attention to this symptom because it goes unaddressed for long enough, it can signal something called diabetic retinopathy. This occurs when tiny blood vessels in your eyes essentially leak blood and other fluids, not only jeopardizing your vision (untreated diabetes can result in total blindness), but your very life.
Of course, blurred vision can simply be a sign that you’re in need or corrective eyewear. When experiencing blurry vision, it’s crucial to have it checked out by an experienced eye care professional to determine the exact cause of the symptom and rule out anything serious. The good news is that if you’re suffering from diabetes-related vision complications, eye care specialists like Dr. Silverman and his staff at OCLI can provide the vision-saving treatment that’s imperative to receive while also ensuring that the underlying cause (diabetes) is being addressed.
Drooping Eyelids
Though drooping eyelid skin is a normal part of aging, there are instances where it too may signal something more serious. Drooping eyelids can be a side effect of myasthenia gravis. This condition stimulates an attack from the immune system and weakens the muscles, which can manifest in eyelid drooping.
As this condition can also affect the face and throat muscles, making it difficult to chew or swallow, it’s important to seek medical attention. Treatment includes filtering the blood to help ease symptoms, though this is often only a short term solution. In treatment-resistant cases where symptoms become aggravated, removing the thymus gland may be a last resort.
Eye Twitching
Though eye twitching — especially when it is persistent and ongoing — can be related to neurological problems, this is rarely the case. Most often when our eyes twitch, it’s related to physical or emotional stress. For this reason, eye-twitching can be a sign that it’s time to slow down, give yourself permission to rest or relax, and administer some self-care.
If you began to make a correlation between twitching eyes and stress levels, try some forms of meditation like yoga or breathing exercises. (Or if this isn’t for you, do something that helps you feel at ease and brings you pleasure, whether that’s playing with your pet, taking a long bath or shower, indulging in a favorite snack, taking a nature walk, or simply calling up a trusted friend.) All of these things can help to relax and lower our cortisol levels.
High Cholesterol
If you find a white ring forming around the outside of your iris — also known as the corneal arcus — you may want to schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist.
While these types of signs can be a sign of aging, it can also imply high cholesterol and triglycerides, which can mean a higher risk of a heart attack or a stroke. This is why it’s important to pay attention to changes in your eyes’ appearance and follow up with a doctor to determine the cause of this symptom and receive appropriate treatment.
Here, at OCLI, we offer comprehensive service for all of your eye care needs. No matter what the cause of your symptoms, we have the experience, personalized care, and leading-edge technology to get to the bottom of it and provide answers and solutions. We’re here to help, and we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call today.
