8 clues your eyes can give you concerning your health status

1. Bloodshot eyes
2. White conjunctiva
3. Red spots
4. Itchy, swollen, red eye
5. Dry eye
6. Blurry vision
7. Flashes of light
8. White rings

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Having #bloodshot eyes can be due to things like;

- fumes
- eye injury
- eye allergies
- smoking e.g. marijuana
- infections like conjunctivitis or 'apolo'
- eye strain from computer use
- acute glaucoma, etc

It's one common eye hint which most people can easily trace the cause

White or pale #conjunctiva is a common sign of anaemia (low red blood cells level).

Severe malaria, sick cell crisis, massive blood loss, hookworm, etc, can all cause anemia

The whiter your conjunctiva looks, the worse the level of anemia.

#Red spots or 'dots of blood' in your eye, can be a sign of diabetes eye complication.

If blood sugar builds up too high, small blood vessels in the retina can get blocked, swell, burst & bleed.

If not treated, this can potentially lead to outright loss of sight.

#Itchy, swollen, red eyes may signify eye allergy.

It can be due to pollen, dust, paints, fumes or other allergens.

Antihistamine eye drops can help, although some oral antihistamines can cause dry eyes which may worsen the problem.

So seeing your doctor is a good option.

#Dry eyes can be a side effect of computer usage & some drugs like sleeping pills, pain relievers, or anti-anxiety drugs.

Some diseases called autoimmune diseases (e.g. Sjögren's syndrome), can also destroy the glands that produce tears causing dry eyes.

See your doctor.

#Blurry vision has many causes e.g. cataracts, which causes blurred, clouded or dim vision with difficulty seeing at night or "halos" around lights.

In people with high blood pressure or steroid abusers, blurry vision is a dangerous sign that warrants seeing a doctor urgently.

Seeing #flashes of light may be a sign that your retina is detached esp if associated with shadows or loss of peripheral vision.

Some people with migraines may also see flashes. But if there's sudden increase in the size & number of flashes, there might be something more to it.

If white #rings appear in your eyes, it may be suggestive of high cholesterol level.

In some patients, this comes with yellowish bumps in the eyelids.

Older patients are likely to have such rings.

Good to have their cholesterol levels checked.

There's obviously more to your eyes than you probably thought.

These are just some clues you can pick up with little or no training.

Skilled healthcare providers can see a lot more signs in your eyes including cancers, nerve problems, etc, esp if they use instruments.

I'll conclude by telling you it's good to have your eyes checked at least once a year if you're 40+.

Those with existing problems like diabetes or high BP need even more checks to pick up & treat any eye issues early enough to avoid losing their sight.

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Your eyes are more than a window to your soul. They're also a window to your health status.

You can save your eyes & life by recognizing these simple eye hints.

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