{"id":17772,"date":"2021-10-04T09:14:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T09:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17772"},"modified":"2021-12-16T13:01:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T13:01:58","slug":"9-ways-your-eyes-are-a-window-to-your-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/9-ways-your-eyes-are-a-window-to-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Ways Your Eyes are a Window to Your Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

People say your eyes are the window to your soul. But did you know they can be the window to your health?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most people know when they get red, itchy eyes that their allergies are kicking in. But other eye problems, such as blurry vision, can be an indication of a serious health condition.<\/p>\n

Which is why it’s important to add regular eye exams<\/a> to your healthcare routine.<\/b><\/p>\n

During an eye exam, your eye doctor can learn a lot about your overall health. For example, your doctor may spot signs that you have heart disease or diabetes<\/a>, and even signs that you may have cancer.<\/p>\n

Regular eye exams facilitate early detection and treatment for various health conditions. Find out which eye problems could be a sign of something more serious.<\/p>\n

Sudden vision loss<\/b><\/h2>\n

A sudden and drastic loss of vision may indicate that not enough blood is reaching your eyes or brain.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Sudden and immediate vision loss could be an early sign of a stroke<\/a> or the start of a migraine headache.<\/a> Sudden vision loss can also be caused by a brain tumor, a retinal bleed or retinal detachment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blurred vision<\/b><\/h2>\n

Blurred vision can be an indication of dry eyes or diabetes.<\/b><\/p>\n

Diabetes<\/a> is caused by an excess of sugar in the blood. Diabetic retinopathy<\/a> occurs when tiny blood vessels in your eyes leak blood and other fluids, causing blurry vision and threatening vision loss. Diabetes can also make it difficult to see at night or in dim light.<\/p>\n

Bulging eyes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Thyroid gland dysfunction, such as Grave\u2019s disease, causes protruding or bulging eyes.<\/b><\/p>\n

Graves’ disease causes your thyroid gland to produce excessive hormones, which can cause double vision and vision loss.<\/p>\n

With graves\u2019 disease, your immune system attacks the tissue around the eyes, causing them to swell and push forward, giving them a “bulging” appearance.<\/p>\n

Droopy Eyelid<\/b><\/h2>\n

A droopy eyelid can be caused by a stroke, an eyelid or brain tumor, or cancer of the nerves or muscles<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Droopy eyelids<\/a> could be a symptom of myasthenia gravis, a disease that causes your immune system to attack your muscles and weaken them.<\/p>\n

Myasthenia gravis affects eye, facial and throat muscles more than others, making chewing, swallowing and even speaking difficult for some people.<\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> Does Smoking Affect the Eyes?\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact an eye doctor near you<\/a> if you\u2019ve experienced any changes to your vision or appearance of your eyes.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\t

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