Understanding Your Eyes: What they say about your health

As the windows through which we see the world – whether it be to admire beautiful landscapes, binge-watch the latest must-see TV show, or read articles like this one – our eyes are incredibly powerful and sophisticated.

With more than 2 million working parts, our eyes are among the most complex structures on the planet. They allow us to convert light into a clear view of the world around us. But what many of us don’t realise is that they can also give us crucial insight as to what lies within.

It turns out that the nickname “Windows to the Soul” might not be too far off the money. In fact, our eyes can provide valuable information about our health in general. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at the human eye and what they can tell us about our health.

Your Eyes – Indicators of Health

Everyone’s eyes are different – from shape and size to the presence of refractive errors. But one thing is true for all – screening your eyes can provide you and your doctor with early signs of a number of conditions and health-related symptoms. For example, our eyes can indicate that a person may…

…Have High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is among the most deadly health issues worldwide. It contributes to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and can be associated with a wide range of serious health conditions. But hypertension can also affect your eyes.

Increased blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the retina (the photosensitive tissue at the back of the eye). This is known as hypertensive retinopathy.

While you won’t be able to spot the effects of hypertensive retinopathy in the mirror, your eye doctor will be able to identify related damage during an eye exam. This is one of many reasons to ensure you attend regular eye tests – spotting high blood pressure early could even help to save your life.

…Be Too Stressed

Whether work- or life-related, many of us experience stress in one form or another every now and then. But when we are too stressed, too often, this can have significant implications on our health and wellbeing. When we’re stressed, our bodies switch to ‘high-alert’ mode in which we are constantly monitoring our surroundings and situations for danger.

In turn, this can cause us to involuntarily narrow our eyes and tense the muscles around the eyes, temples and forehead – manifesting as a constant frown.

In more acute cases of stress, it is even possible to develop an eye twitch. While this may not represent a serious threat to your health, it can become uncomfortable and frustrating. So, maybe it’s time to take a rest and adopt new techniques to manage your stress levels!

…Have Jaundice

When most of us think about our eyes, our thoughts naturally concern the irises and the pupils – arguably the most interesting (visible) parts. But the whites of our eyes can also be a key indicator of health.

For example, if you start to notice that the whites of your eyes aren’t looking so, well, white, this could be a sign of jaundice.

Jaundice is a condition that occurs when the liver is unable to filter bilirubin – a yellow waste product formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. This can cause a noticeable yellowing of the skin and eyes, which can act as a warning sign that something isn’t quite right in your body.

Jaundice can be a sign of an inflamed liver, which can be due to alcohol-related liver disease, an infection such as hepatitis, or a blockage of the bile ducts which may be caused by gallstones or even cancer. So, if you notice that the whites of your eyes are looking more yellow than usual, should check in with your GP as soon as possible.

… Have High Cholesterol

Now, back to the iris (the colourful part of the eye). If you begin to notice a grey or white ring around the iris, this could be simply a sign of ageing. However, in some cases, this may also be a sign of high cholesterol.

In cases of high cholesterol, this ring, which doctors call arcus senilis, is a deposit of fats and cholesterol in the eye. Given the serious health implications of having high cholesterol levels, such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, this sign should not be ignored. If you notice any changes in the colour of your irises, you should get it checked out.

… Could Have Thyroid Issues

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the back of the neck. It releases hormones that are responsible for our metabolism – that is, how your body converts energy.

These hormones play a crucial role in a huge number of processes, from breathing and heart rate to menstrual cycles and weight gain. But when the thyroid becomes overactive (called hyperthyroidism) it can be linked to a number of symptoms, including in our eyes.

Some signs of hyperthyroidism include dry eyes, blurry vision, and even pain when moving your eyes. Other symptoms of an overactive thyroid include swelling in the neck, irregular heart rate, weight loss, and difficulty sleeping. Even if you do not experience any of these symptoms, doctors can often learn a lot about the health of your thyroid from your eyes.

… Could Have Anisocoria

While this might sound like an obscure medical condition, many of us have anisocoria to some degree – though most of us have likely never heard of it!

Taken from the Greek words “aniso” meaning unequal, and “kore” meaning pupil, anisocoria means – you guessed it! – different-sized pupils. This means that one pupil may be larger (more dilated) or smaller (more constricted) than the other – though in many cases, this may not be noticeable.

Most cases of anisocoria have no underlying pathology and are therefore nothing to be concerned about; however, if you notice a sudden change in your pupil size, this could indicate certain medical issues, such as eye trauma, inflammation of the iris (iritis), or a neurological disorder.

… Could be at Risk of Retinal Tears

Now and then, you might notice little specks floating around your field of vision. These little guys are quite fittingly called “floaters” and in many cases are nothing to worry about – in fact, they are surprisingly common.

In most cases, they are caused by a natural and harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment, which causes the gel (vitreous) inside the eye to change. However, if you suddenly start seeing floaters when you haven’t had them before, they are getting worse, or they are disrupting your vision, they could be a sign of a retinal tear or retinal detachment.

This occurs when the retina at the back of the eye becomes loose or suffers a tear. It is important to monitor the frequency and severity of floaters, as well as other symptoms, as urgent treatment may be required to prevent any permanent damage to your vision if they are caused by retinal detachment.

… Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep

We’ve probably all noticed differences in our eyes when we are tired or haven’t had enough sleep. Whether they are puffy, red, or feature dark circles around them, we probably don’t think too much of this.

But sleep is an extremely important function. It allows our bodies, and minds to heal. Enables us to better form memories and process new information. Improves our mood and outlook – just to name a few!

So, next time you notice those bags under your eyes, may it act as a reminder to prioritise your sleep for the sake of your wider health and wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about the health of your eyes and how this could affect your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.