14 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health

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14 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health

By Paula Spencer, Caring.com
Thu, Feb 03, 2011

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Looking people straight in the eye may or may not reveal their honesty -- but the eyes

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*can* tell you about cholesterol, liver disease, or diabetes, if you know what to look
for.
"The eye is a unique window into health," says ophthalmologist Andrew Iwach,
spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and executive
director of the Glaucoma Center of San Francisco. "It's the only place in the body
where, without surgery, we can look in and see veins, arteries, and a nerve (the optic

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," Iwach says. Especially vulnerable, he says: People like

, who worry about others around them while neglecting care for
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Keep your eye out for these 14 problems.

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1. Red flag: Disappearing eyebrows
What it means: Shaved eyebrows are a fad (or fashion, if you will) in some circles.

Jan 26, 2011 - AFP

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Dec 16, 2010 - Reuters

But when the outer third of the brow (the part closest to the ears) starts to disappear
on its own, this is a common sign of thyroid disease -- either hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid gland) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). The thyroid
is a small but critical gland that helps regulate metabolism, and thyroid hormones are
among those critical to hair production.
More clues: Brows tend to thin with age naturally. But with thyroid disease, the browhair loss isn't evenly distributed; it's a selective dropout on the ends. There's usually a
loss of hair elsewhere on the body, too, but the brows are so prominent, it's often
noticed here first. Early graying is a related sign of a thyroid problem. Women are

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more often affected than men, and hyperthyroidism especially strikes women in their

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What to do: Mention this symptom to a dermatologist or your regular doctor. Most

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other symptoms of both hyper- and hypothyroidism are notoriously broad and
general. Before you see a doctor, make note of any other changes you've noticed,

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possibly concerning weight, energy levels, bowel or menstrual regularity, mood, or

my-health-symptoms.com

skin changes.
2. Red flag: A stye that won't go away
What it means: The vast majority of the time, a small, raised, often reddish bump
along the inner or outer eyelid margin is just an unsightly but innocuous stye (also
called a "chalazion"). But if the spot doesn't clear up in three months, or seems to

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14 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health

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keep recurring in the same location, it can also be a rare cancer (sebaceous gland
carcinoma).
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More clues: Actual styes are plugged-up oil glands at the eyelash follicle. Fairly
common, they tend to clear up within a month. A cancerous cyst that mimics a stye,
on the other hand, doesn't go away. (Or it may seem to go away but return in the
same spot.) Another eyelid cancer warning sign: Loss of some of the eyelashes
around the stye.

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What to do: Point out a persistent stye to an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who
specializes in the eye). A biopsy

can confirm the diagnosis. The stye is usually

removed surgically.
3. Red flag: Bumpy yellowish patches on the eyelid
What it means: Xanthelasma palpebra, the medical name for these tiny yellow
bumps, are usually a warning that you may have high cholesterol. They're also called
"cholesterol bumps" -- they're basically fatty deposits.
More clues: Sometimes people mistake these bumps for a stye, but with
xanthelasma, there tends to be more than one bump and they're quite small.
What to do: See your doctor or a skin or eye specialist. A diagnosis can usually be
made by sight

. An ophthalmologist can also examine the eye and see deposits; for

this reason, in fact, sometimes high cholesterol is first diagnosed during a routine eye
exam. The problem usually isn't serious and doesn't cause pain or vision problems. A
physician will also evaluate you for other signs of coronary artery disease.
4. Red flag: Burning eyes, blurry vision while using a computer
What it means: You might be a workaholic, and you definitely have "computer vision
syndrome" (CVS). The eyestrain is partly caused by the lack of contrast on a
computer screen (compared with ink on paper) and the extra work involved in
focusing on pixels of light. What's more, by midlife the eyes lose some of their ability
to produce lubricating tears. Irritation sets in, adding to blurriness and discomfort.
More clues: Does the problem worsen in the afternoon (when the eyes tend to
become drier)? Is it worse when you're reading fine print (more eyestrain)? People
who wear glasses or contacts tend to be bothered more by CVS. "Sometimes the
problem is made worse by a fan positioned so it blows right in the face," the AAO's
Iwach adds, noting that the air further dries tired eyes.
What to do: Reduce glare by closing window shades, investing in a computer hood,
or checking out antireflective coating for your glasses (if you wear them). Simply
tinkering with the contrast of your screen can help, too. White areas should neither
glow brightly like a light source nor appear gray. Flat-panel LCD display screens (like
those on laptops) cause less eyestrain than older models. Keep reference material
close to the same height as your monitor, giving your eyes a break from having to
refocus so much.
5. Red flag: Increasing gunk in the eye
What it means: Blepharitis -- inflammation of the eyelids, especially at the edges -can have several causes. Two of them, surprisingly, are conditions better associated
with other body parts: scalp dandruff and acne rosacea (which causes flushed red
skin, usually in the faces of fair-skinned women at midlife).
More clues: The eyes may also feel irritated, as if specks have gotten in them. They
may burn, tear, or feel dry. The crusty debris tends to gather in the lashes or the inner
corners of the eyes, or even on the lids.
What to do: With clean hands, apply a warm, damp washcloth to the eyes for about
five minutes at a time to loosen debris and soothe the skin. See a doctor, who may
prescribe an antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics, as well as artificial tears.
6. Red flag: A small blind spot in your vision, with shimmering lights or a wavy
line
What it means: An ocular migraine (also called an "ophthalmic migraine," "optical
migraine," or "migraine aura") produces this disturbed vision, with or without an
accompanying headache

. Changes in blood flow to the brain are thought to be the

cause.

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14 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health

More clues: The visual distortion starts in the center of the field of vision. It might

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(ranging from chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol to stress). A headache, possibly

severe enough to cause nausea, sometimes follows.
What to do: If you're driving

, pull over until the phenomenon passes (usually

within an hour). Do have an eye specialist check it out if vision impairment lasts more
than an hour or so, to rule out serious problems such as a retinal tear; or if you also
experience other symptoms elsewhere that could indicate stroke or seizure (such as
fever, loss of muscle strength, or speech impairment).
7. Red flag: Red, itchy eyes
What it means: Many things can irritate eyes, but itchiness accompanied by
sneezing, coughing, sinus congestion, and/or a runny nose, usually screams "I'm
allergic!" When the eyes are involved, the trigger is usually airborne, like pollen, dust,
or animal dander.
More clues: An eye allergy can also be caused by certain cosmetics or ointments.
Some people, for example, are allergic to the preservative in eye drops used to treat
dry eyes.
What to do: Staying away from the allergic trigger is the usual treatment.
Antihistamines can treat the itchiness; those in eye-drop or gel form deliver relief to
the eyes faster. If the problem turns out to be an allergy to eye drops, look for a
preservative-free brand.
8. Red flag: Whites of the eye turned yellowish
What it means: Two groups of people most often show this symptom, known as
jaundice: Newborns with immature liver function and adults with problems of the liver,
gallbladder, or bile ducts, including hepatitis and cirrhosis. The yellow in the white
part of the eye (the sclera) is caused by a buildup of bilirubin, the by-product of old
red blood cells the liver can't process.
More clues: "Other tissues of the body would have the same look, but we can't see it
as clearly as in the whites of the eye," says ophthalmologist Iwach. (Skin can also
turn yellowish when a person consumes too much beta carotene -- found in carrots -but in those cases the whites of the eyes remain white.)
What to do: Mention the symptom to a doctor if the person isn't already under care
for a liver-related disease, so the jaundice can be evaluated and the underlying cause
treated.
9. Red flag: A bump or brown spot on the eyelid
What it means: Even people who are vigilant about checking their skin may overlook
the eyelid as a spot where skin cancer can strike. Most malignant eyelid tumors are
basal cell carcinoma. When such a tumor appears as a brown spot, then -- as with
any other form of skin cancer -- it's more likely to be malignant melanoma.
More clues: Elderly, fair-skinned people are at highest risk. Look especially at the
lower eyelid. The bump may look pearly, with tiny blood vessels. If the bump is in the
eyelash area, some eyelashes may be missing.
What to do: Always have any suspicious skin spots or sores checked out by a
dermatologist, family physician, or eye doctor. Early detection is critical, before the
problem spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
10. Red flag: Eyes that seem to bulge
What it means: The most common cause of protruding eyes is hyperthyroidism
(overactivity of the thyroid gland), especially the form known as Graves' disease.
(First Lady Barbara Bush had it.)
More clues: One way to tell if an eye is bulging is to see whether there's any visible
white part between the top of the iris and the upper eyelid, because normally there
shouldn't be. (Some people inherit a tendency toward eyes that bulge, so if the
appearance seems to run in a family, it probably isn't hyperthyroidism.) The person
may not blink often and may seem to be staring at you. Because the condition
develops slowly, it's sometimes first noticed in photos or by the occasional visitor
rather than by someone who lives with the person every day.

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14 Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health

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What to do: Mention the symptom to a doctor, especially if it's present in tandem with
other signs of Graves' disease, including blurry vision, restlessness, fatigue, increase
in appetite, weight loss, tremors, and palpitations. A blood test can measure thyroid
levels. Treatment includes medication and surgery.
11. Red flag: Sudden double vision, dim vision, or loss of vision
What it means: These are the visual warning signs of stroke.
More clues: The other signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the
arm or leg or face, typically on just one side of the body; trouble walking because of
dizziness or loss of balance or coordination; slurred speech; or bad headache. In a
large stroke (caused by a blood clot or bleeding in the brain), these symptoms
happen all at once. In a smaller stroke caused by narrowed arteries, they can occur
across a longer period of minutes or hours.
What to do: Seek immediate medical help by calling 911.
12. Red flag: Dry eyes that are sensitive to light
What it means: Sjogren's (pronounced "show-grins") syndrome is an immune system
disorder. It impairs the glands in the eyes and mouth that keep them moist.
More clues: Sjogren's usually affects women over age 40 with
autoimmune disorders

such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

. Usually the eyes

and mouth are affected together. The person may also have vaginal dryness, dry
sinuses, and dry skin. Because of a lack of saliva, it can be difficult to chew and
swallow.
What to do: A doctor can diagnose Sjogren's through testing. Artificial lubricants
(such as artificial tears) are usually necessary to protect the eyes, as well as to
improve eating. Drinking plenty of water also helps.
13. Red flag: Sudden difficulty closing one eye, inability to control tears in it
What it means: Bell's palsy is an impairment of the nerve that controls facial muscles
(the seventh cranial nerve), causing temporary paralysis in half the face. It sometimes
follows a viral infection

(such as shingles, mono, or HIV) or a bacterial infection

(such as Lyme disease). Diabetics and pregnant women are also at higher risk.
More clues: Half of the entire face, not just the eye, is affected. Effects vary from
person to person, but the overall effect is for the face to appear droopy and be weak.
The eyelid may droop and be difficult or impossible to close, and there will be either
excessive tearing or an inability to produce tears. The effects tend to come on
suddenly.
What to do: See a doctor. Most cases are temporary and the person recovers
completely within weeks. Rarely, the condition can recur. Physical therapy helps
restore speaking, smiling, and other tasks that require the facial muscles working in
unison, and it also helps avoid an asymmetrical appearance. Professional eye care
can keep the affected eye lubricated and undamaged.
14. Red flag: Blurred vision in a diabetic
What it means: Diabetics are at increased risk for several eye problems, including
glaucoma and cataracts. But the most common threat to vision is diabetic retinopathy,
in which the diabetes affects the circulatory system of the eye. It's the leading cause
of blindness

in American adults.

More clues: The changes linked to diabetic retinopathy tend to show up in people
who have had the disease for a long time, not those recently diagnosed. The person
may also see "floaters," tiny dark specks in the field of vision. Sometimes diabetes
causes small hemorrhages (bleeding) that are visible in the eye. There's no pain.
People with poorly controlled blood sugar may have worse symptoms.
What to do: Someone with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam annually to
catch and control the earliest stages of retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, or other
changes -- before they manifest as changes you're aware of.
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