When Dr. Ward from Lake Nona Eye Care looks into your eyes, she can see more than you think. It is said the eyes might be the proverbial window to the soul, but they are definitely a clear window to your health, revealing an amazing amount of information.
“Looking in an eye really is a fabulous experience,” says Dr. Charles P. Wilkinson, a retina specialist and clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “It’s the only place you can see blood vessels bouncing along their merry way, you can see the optic nerve, which is part of the brain.”
Here are a few irregularities in the eye that can mean something more.
Over 40% of the people living in the United States will develop diabetes in their lives, according to the CDC. One of the first signs of diabetes is red spots, small red dots in the eye. If the sugar in the blood gets too high, blood vessels can get blocked and begin so swell. The small blood vessels in the retina can burst cause the red spots.
Allergies are in full swing in Central Florida, itchy, red, swollen eyes are tell tale signs of allergies. Eye drops with antihistamines can help with allergies such as pet dander, pollen, and even dust.
Yellowish bumps in the eyelids and white rings around the eyes can be a sign of high cholesterol.
An eye exam can be the first defense against many other conditions such as ocular melanoma, torn retina, presbyopia, and autoimmune diseases, that can be detected during a routine screenings. There are many diseases that cause eye issues symptoms which is why it is so important to have regular eye exams.