10 early warning signs your eyes could be telling you about your health

Affinity Health is encouraging people to pay closer attention to changes in their eyes during Eye Care Awareness Month from September 23 to October 18.

According to Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health, your eyes do more than help you see.

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“They can also reveal clues about your overall health. During an eye examination, an optometrist can examine the retina, optic nerve and tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye. Changes in these areas may point to diabetes, high blood pressure and other health conditions, sometimes before noticeable symptoms appear,” he said.

Hewlett added that changes in the eyes shouldn’t be ignored just because they don’t hurt.

Many eye and general health issues can develop quietly without warning.

“Regular eye tests, along with routine health checks, can help detect problems earlier, when they’re often easier to deal with.”

Here are 10 warning signs your eyes could be telling you about your health:

1. Blurred or changing vision

Blurred vision can mean you need glasses, but it may also be linked to fluctuating blood sugar levels. High blood glucose can temporarily change fluid levels in the eye, affecting its ability to focus.

Persistent blurred vision may also be a sign of diabetic retinopathy, where diabetes damages small blood vessels in the retina. Early diabetic retinopathy often causes no symptoms, so people with diabetes should not wait for their vision to change before having an eye examination.

2. Sudden loss of vision

Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes is a medical emergency. It may be caused by a blocked retinal blood vessel, retinal detachment or a problem affecting the brain, including a stroke.

Even if sight returns after a few minutes, seek urgent medical attention. Temporary vision loss may indicate that blood flow to the eye or brain has been interrupted.

3. Flashes, floaters or a dark curtain

Floaters may appear as dots, threads or cobwebs drifting across your vision. A few long-standing floaters are often harmless.

However, a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light or a dark curtain or shadow moving across your sight could indicate a retinal tear or detachment. Prompt treatment may be needed to prevent permanent sight loss.

4. Changes in retinal blood vessels

High blood pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels at the back of the eye. During an examination, an optometrist may notice narrowing, leaking, swelling or bleeding in these vessels.

These changes may indicate that hypertension is affecting the body, even if the person feels well. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also increase the risk of heart disease, kidney damage and stroke.

5. Yellowing of the whites of the eyes

Yellow eyes can occur when bilirubin, a yellow substance formed during the breakdown of red blood cells, builds up in the body.

Known as jaundice, this may point to a problem involving the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts or pancreas. Medical assessment is needed, particularly if it occurs with dark urine, pale stools, itching, nausea or abdominal pain.

6. Unusually pale inner eyelids

The tissue inside the lower eyelid is normally pink or red. If it appears unusually pale, it may be a sign of anaemia.

Iron-deficiency anaemia reduces the body’s ability to produce healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen. Other warning signs include tiredness, weakness, dizziness, breathlessness, headaches or a racing heartbeat. Anaemia can only be confirmed through appropriate medical tests.

7. Bulging or unusually prominent eyes

Eyes that begin to bulge or become more prominent may be linked to thyroid eye disease, often associated with Graves’ disease and an overactive thyroid.

Other symptoms can include redness, dryness, swelling, light sensitivity, double vision, pressure behind the eyes or difficulty closing the eyelids fully. Early assessment is important because severe thyroid eye disease can affect sight.

8. A white, grey or blue ring around the cornea

A pale ring around the coloured part of the eye is known as corneal arcus. It is common with ageing and is often harmless in older adults.

When it appears in a younger person, however, it may be associated with high cholesterol or an inherited condition affecting how the body processes fats. A healthcare provider may recommend cholesterol testing, particularly with a family history of early heart disease.

9. Persistent dry, gritty or painful eyes

Dry eyes are commonly caused by screen use, air conditioning, contact lenses, allergies or certain medicines.

However, severe or ongoing dryness may sometimes be associated with autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. Speak to a healthcare provider if dry eyes occur with a persistently dry mouth, joint pain, swelling, light sensitivity or vision changes.

10. Double vision, a drooping eyelid or unequal pupils

New double vision, sudden eyelid drooping or noticeably unequal pupils may indicate a problem involving the nerves, muscles, blood vessels or brain.

Seek urgent medical attention, especially if these symptoms occur with facial drooping, weakness on one side of the body, confusion, difficulty speaking, loss of balance or a sudden severe headache. These may be warning signs of a stroke, aneurysm or another serious neurological condition.

“Do not wait for your sight to deteriorate before arranging an eye examination.

People living with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or other long-term health conditions, as well as those with a family history of eye disease, may need more frequent checks,” Hewlett advised.