How to recognize health problems by looking at the eyes?

Eyes are an amazing and complex organ, performing not only the function of vision but also serving as a kind of indicator of general health. An experienced ophthalmologist can recognize in the subtle changes of the fundus, sclera, or eyelids signals about problems that sometimes seem completely unrelated to the visual organs. This helps to start treatment in a timely manner, said Anton Kazantsev, an ophthalmologist, to "Gazeta.Ru".

"For example, redness of the eyes, often attributed to fatigue or allergies, may indicate much more serious problems. Regular and unexplained redness, especially when combined with headaches, dizziness, or 'floaters' before the eyes, may be a sign of high blood pressure (hypertension). Chronic high blood pressure leads to the rupture of small vessels in the eyes, causing characteristic redness. Diabetes is equally dangerous, which can also manifest as redness of the eyes due to damage to the retinal vessels (diabetic retinopathy). Finally, sudden and sharp redness of the eye, accompanied by severe pain and deterioration of vision, may be a symptom of glaucoma, requiring immediate medical attention," he explained.

Dry eyes - the scourge of modern humans who spend long hours in front of a monitor screen - is not always a consequence of fatigue. In some cases, it may be a symptom of autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis, which affect the salivary and lacrimal glands. Problems with the thyroid gland, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can also cause changes in the structure and function of the lacrimal glands, leading to an agonizing feeling of dryness in the eyes.

"A yellow tint of the sclera (whites of the eyes) is a classic sign of liver problems, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. With these diseases, the level of bilirubin in the blood increases, which gives the sclera a characteristic yellowish tint. It should be remembered that yellowing of the sclera is usually accompanied by a change in skin color," said the doctor.

Changes in the position of the eyeballs can also be informative. Protruding eyes (exophthalmos), especially if it occurs suddenly, may indicate thyroid pathology, namely Graves' disease - an autoimmune disease characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormones. Graves' disease is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and anxiety.

"Double vision (diplopia) can signal various problems, ranging from simple fatigue to serious neurological diseases such as stroke or multiple sclerosis. The cause of double vision can be disorders in the function of the oculomotor muscles or damage to the nerves that control their work," said the expert.

Sudden loss of vision, even temporary, is always a reason for immediate consultation with a doctor. This may be a sign of stroke, retinal artery occlusion (blockage of the vessel that feeds the retina), or retinal detachment - conditions that require emergency medical care to preserve vision, the doctor summarized.