What do you see when you look a person in the eyes? You can see how he is feeling at that moment, whether he is sad or happy. You can see if he is telling the truth or lying. Moreover, you can even see some character traits, whether he is confident or shy. No wonder one says that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. I completely agree with this statement. But I'll tell you more. The eyes are the mirror not only of your soul, but also of your health. Thus, sometimes patients do not need to tell me about their health problems because the eyes speak for them.
Let's identify together the warning signs in our eyes:
Red eyes
Eye redness can be temporary and can be caused by some external factors such as smoke, dust, dry air, long-term computer use, etc.
If redness of the eyes occurs quite often and for a long time, this indicates a problem. It could be caused by eye fatigue, prolonged wearing of contact lenses, allergies, infection.
But there can be more serious causes, such as glaucoma – increased intraocular pressure and uveitis – inflammation of the choroid. In both cases, a person runs the risk of going blind without treatment. Therefore, it is very important to consult an ophthalmologist in time.
Yellow whites of the eyes
Yellowed whites of the eyes that show through the mucous membrane of the eye often speak of problems with the liver, gallbladder and possible jaundice. It can also signal the development of hepatitis.
This symptom should not be ignored. Various conditions, inflammations and infections that cause jaundice are most often accompanied by intoxication, which threatens damage to other organs, from the liver and kidneys to the heart and brain.
Change in eye color
Eye color can change with age – this anomaly occurs in 10-15 percent of people. However, if a new color is found on the iris, it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist.
Older patients often complain of gray circles on the iris. This is the so-called senile arch, which occurs due to the deposition of fat around the iris of the eye. It can manifest itself due to high blood cholesterol levels or heart ailments.
Also, be very careful, as a sudden change in eye color can be a sign of a serious medical condition. These include pigmentary glaucoma and Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis.
The appearance of a dark age spot can signal the development of melanoma, one of the most dangerous cancers.
Edema
The condition of the eye can also determine arterial hypertension (high blood pressure). If blood pressure is often and strongly increased, occluded small vessels, retinal edema, and thrombosis of large vessels can be seen in the fundus.
Bags, dark circles under the eyes
Bags and dark circles under the eyes often make a person look sickly, but in reality, they are rarely a sign of serious medical conditions.
The bags appear mainly due to age-related weakening of the muscles and tissues around the eyes, plus fluid accumulates in them, which makes the eyes look swollen, edematous.
Nevertheless, it is worth contacting a doctor if the swelling is very strong, persistent, painful, or accompanied by itching and redness of the eyes. Darkening of the skin under the eyes, in turn, may indicate a lack of iron in the body (anemia), thyroid problems, and may also be a sign of kidney stones.
Twitching eye
In most cases, it is harmless and can be attributed to lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, overwork, eye strain, excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, wind and eye irritation, and other external factors.
But sometimes a it can be a sign of diseases like blepharitis – a chronic inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, which is caused by infections, allergies, lack of vitamins, diseases of the digestive tract, nasopharynx, etc. or uveitis – inflammation of the choroid.
In rare cases, eye twitching can be a sign of brain and nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Of course, all of the above is not a guarantee that you are at risk of developing a particular disease, so you should not panic ahead of time. It is important to remember that if changes in vision and the external condition of the eyes appear, you should immediately see an ophthalmologist.
Look into your eyes!