Looking into the eyes, we can see signs of diseases that trouble us, and we are often not even aware of them: diabetes, glaucoma, cataract, and even cardiovascular diseases…
Sometimes the signs of these diseases can be seen in or around our eyes, without our body showing their true symptoms.
“The eye is the only body part where we can see naked nerve, artery and vein without any cutting,” says ophthalmologist Andrew Iwach. “The processes of disease development that we see in the eyes are most likely happening in the rest of the body too.”
List of diseases that manifest themselves in the eyes is long – it includes aneurysm, HIV, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or hereditary diseases.
The doctors assure us that each person must perform a thorough eye examination till their 40th year. Those that have a family history of eye disease should undergo the examination much sooner. If you are experiencing any problems or pain in the eye, you should not hesitate and should immediately contact your doctor.
We bring you some of the most common signs of illness that are apparent in the eye:
1. Bloodshot eyes.
Conjunctiva, a thin and transparent membrane that connects the edge of the cornea with the edge of the eyelid, is rich in tiny blood vessels. If they burst, the blood can diffuse the sclera. Such bleeding can cause a blow to the eye or high blood pressure.
2. Protruding eyes.
Although slightly protruding eyes can be a family characteristic, eyes that suddenly changed the shape can be a sign of thyroid problem. Unbalanced levels of thyroid hormone cause swelling of tissues around the eye.
3. Lowered eyelids.
This condition, which doctors call ptosis of the eyelid, is usually a sign of aging. With age, our skin becomes loose and no longer elastic. But in rare cases it may be a sign of serious neuromuscle disorder of a heavy muscle weakness. It is an autoimmune disease that weakens the muscles of the body.
4. Abnormalities of the pupil.
Pupils of healthy people are usually symmetrical; they are of the same size and show the same reaction to light. If one pupil is larger than the other one and reacts differently to light, possible scenarios include several diseases: stroke, brain tumor or optic nerve, aneurysms, syphilis and multiple sclerosis.
5. The circles on the cornea.
A rare hereditary disorder called Wilson’s disease can cause accumulation of copper in tissues, and even inthe brain or liver. Copper clusters deposit on the inner side of the cornea in the form of circles which are harmless. But without adequate treatment, the disease can be fatal.
6. Yellow eyes.
Liver disease, as hepatitis or cirrhosis, causes the yellow color of the sclera due to the accumulation of bilirubin, a substance that is made by the disintegration of hemoglobin. Although it seems that the sclera is yellow, conjunctiva actually turned yellow.
7. Plaque in arteries.
Atherosclerosis is a disease that causes cholesterol plaques in arteries. Bits of plaque can break off and enter the bloodstream, in which way they can reach the eye, where they settle in small arteries of the cornea.
Taken from: www.ordinacija.hr Author: K. Horvat