Along those lines, you might be surprised to hear that symptoms of certain health problems can be spotted in your eye, of all places \u2014 even if they aren\u2019t eye diseases.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour eyes can reveal a lot about your overall health, often before you notice any changes yourself,\u201d said Dr. Yuna Rapoport<\/a>, a board-certified ophthalmologist and the founder and director of Manhattan Eye.<\/p>\n Ahead, she and another ophthalmologist share health concerns they can see in your eye, what treatment looks like, how often to see an ophthalmologist and when further medical attention is needed.<\/p>\n High Blood Pressure<\/p>\n While a health care provider typically uses your arm to check your blood pressure, your eyes provide information about it, too. <\/p>\n In fact, \u201cthe blood vessels that help to serve the retina are the only microvasculature that can be observed in the body in a non-invasive fashion,\u201d according to Dr. Benjamin Bert<\/a>, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. But how? <\/p>\n Basically, consistently high blood pressure can make the walls of the small arteries thick and stiff, leading to pinching and squeezing of the veins. <\/p>\n \u201cIn severe cases, the arteries can squeeze against the veins so strongly that it causes a blockage, leading to a retinal vein occlusion,\u201d Bert continued. \u201cHypertension can also be observed in the retina by the tortuosity, or the curving of the branches of the retinal microvasculature.\u201d<\/p>\n In layman\u2019s terms, that might look like having blurry vision or noticing sharper curves in the eye\u2019s blood vessels.<\/p>\n What treatment entails: The treatment here is pretty obvious: lowering and stabilizing blood pressure. \u201cNormalizing the blood pressure prevents further damage to the blood vessels and can help stop the progression of the disease,\u201d Bert said. <\/p>\n Some helpful habits for lowering blood pressure<\/a> include exercising, eating more potassium, limiting alcohol, getting enough sleep, scheduling regular checkups and engaging in stress-reducing activities.<\/p>\n Glaucoma<\/p>\n Glaucoma, an eye condition that affects the optic nerve, is sneaky. \u201cGlaucoma is often referred to as a \u2018silent thief of sight\u2019 because in early stages, patients don\u2019t typically notice any symptoms,\u201d Rapaport said. <\/p>\n It develops slowly, she continued, and by the time a person notices changes, permanent damage may have already occurred. <\/p>\n However, early signs can be detected through eye exams, particularly when there\u2019s extra pressure, changes in the eye\u2019s color and shape, a thinning cornea or blind spots.<\/p>\n What treatment entails: \u201cUnfortunately, vision loss from glaucoma cannot be reversed, but early detection allows us to slow or stop the progression,\u201d Rapaport said. \u201cThis is why regular eye exams<\/a> (even when your eyes appear\/feel healthy!) are so important.\u201d<\/p>\n Diabetes<\/p>\n Remember talking about the eye\u2019s \u201cretinal microvasculature\u201d (basically, the blood vessels)? Diabetes<\/a> \u2014 or more specifically, elevated blood sugar<\/a> \u2014 can affect it, too. <\/p>\n \u201cThe elevated blood sugar can damage pericytes, the little cells that are responsible for the integrity of the microvasculature in the retina,\u201d Bert explained. \u201cWhen these cells are damaged by elevated blood glucose, they disappear, leading to incompetence of the blood vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n That can lead to microaneurysms and \u201coutpouching\u201d from the blood vessels, he continued, which look like red dots on the eyes. <\/p>\n In more severe cases, the blood vessels can leak, making even bigger dots and affecting vision.<\/p>\n What treatment entails: Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure is needed to prevent the progression of diabetes.<\/p>\n If vision changes have occurred, know they aren\u2019t always a sign of \u201cnormal aging.\u201d<\/a> Eye treatments may be necessary, Bert said, such as special injections containing a medicine that can make blood vessels less leaky, preventing the growth of new abnormal blood vessels.<\/p>\n LaylaBird via Getty Images<\/p>\n Eye doctors can detect issues like demodex blepharitis and glaucoma during an eye exam.<\/p>\n Demodex Blepharitis<\/p>\n Prepare yourself: This one is pretty gross. <\/p>\n \u201cDemodex blepharitis (DB) is an eyelid disease that is caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites \u2014 microscopic parasites that live in eyelash follicles,\u201d Rapaport said.<\/p>\n Even something as \u201cinnocent\u201d and everyday as applying mascara can lead to it<\/a>.<\/p>\n While you may experience symptoms that look like allergies, know that DB can be asymptomatic. Further, the disease won\u2019t \u201cjust go away\u201d on its own.<\/p>\n \u201cEye crust<\/a>\u201d is a red flag. \u201cI can spot a patient with DB by analyzing the upper eyelid margin during an eye exam for the presence of crusties, otherwise known as collarettes,\u201d Rapaport said.<\/p>\n What treatment entails: Good news: There\u2019s a Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription eye drop that can treat and kill those pesky mites. Consider asking your ophthalmologist about it.<\/p>\n Brain Tumors Or Masses<\/p>\n This is clearly one of the most dangerous health concerns an ophthalmologist can spot. The mass can increase cerebrospinal fluid pressure, Bert said, causing papilledema, or a swelling of the optic nerve.<\/p>\n To be clear, papilledema doesn\u2019t automatically mean a person has a brain tumor<\/a> or mass, but it\u2019s something to check regardless.<\/p>\n What treatment entails: Ophthalmologists can test for this with an automated visual field test, which helps locate the abnormality. Then, after a diagnosis, your provider will order an MRI to assess the possible risk of a mass.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can often help to get patients earlier care and intervention with an oncology\/neurosurgery\/neurology team,\u201d Bert said. <\/p>\n Inflammation That Could Signal An Autoimmune Disease<\/p>\n![\"Eye](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/69cc0910240000f7fa30a43a.jpeg\")
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