Optometrist: The six warning signs your eyes are telling you about your health

A top optometrist spilled the six things your eyes can reveal about your overall health.

Sophie Koh is an optometrist and National Professional Services Advisor at Optometry Australia and revealed how she can detect a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes and even cancer by looking into someone’s eyes.

She said things like blood spots in the back of the eye, swollen optic nerves, and even a gray ring around the iris could be a sign that something more ominous is going on.

Optometry Australia strongly recommends that Australians have a complete eye exam every two years, not only to maintain visual acuity, but also to detect the early signs of various diseases.

‘Anatomically, the eye has two incredibly unique properties; First of all, the retina is the only place in the body where your blood vessels can be clearly seen without the surrounding tissue getting in the way,’ Sophie said.

“Second, 40 percent of the nerve fibers connected to the brain are connected to your retina, so early changes in your eye health and vision could be indicative of other broader health problems.”

More than four in ten Australians are unaware that optometrists can detect chronic illnesses and conditions. According to Australia’s Optometry Vision Index Report 2020 found it.

Sophie said abnormalities in the eye that can only be picked up during an eye exam could be a sign of certain cancers, an increased risk of stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, high cholesterol or thyroid disease.

While the symptoms aren’t necessarily conclusive evidence of cancer or a particular condition, an eye exam can help detect early stage disease.

1. Cancer

Surprisingly, the eye may be the first place to show early signs of a range of cancers, including brain tumors, melanoma, leukemia and lymphoma.

“Swelling of the optic nerve, bloody retinas, and new or irregular-looking moles on the front and back of your eye can set off alarm bells that something serious is going on,” said Sophie.

‘This is one of the reasons why it is important that children and young people have an eye examination, even if they do not complain of vision problems. Your optometrist may be the first to notice this during a routine eye exam.”

2. Stroke

During an eye exam, optometrists can pick up microscopic blood clots in the back of the eye, which can indicate damage to blood vessels due to high blood pressure and can sometimes mean a person is more likely to have a stroke.

‘Blocks or clots in the retina may be the first sign that someone is at increased risk of stroke. If the patient experiences sudden loss of side vision, it could also be a warning sign that brain damage has occurred,” Sophie said.

3. Diabetes

Optometrists may also be able to spot early signs of diabetes.

‘Diabetic retinopathy affects the capillaries in the retina and initially appears as spots of blood at the back of the eye, which can be picked up during routine eye exams,’ explains Sophie.

More drastic changes in vision are not noticeable until the condition has progressed to an advanced stage, so regular eye exams can detect the abnormality early.

4. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis can cause a condition called optic neuritis, in which the optic nerve swells and causes blurred vision.

For nearly 25 percent of people diagnosed with MS, optic neuritis was the first symptom they experienced.

Swelling of your optic nerve may be the first sign of MS. The sheath that covers the optic nerve, called myelin, swells, damaging the optic nerve and thereby degrading visual information to your brain,” Sophie said.

5. High cholesterol

“If a white, blue or gray ring is seen around the iris, it could mean there is a buildup of cholesterol in the bloodstream,” said Sophie.

“This can even show up in your thirties or forties. Your optometrist may recommend further tests to assess your blood cholesterol levels.’

She added that high cholesterol should be taken seriously as it can be a precursor to life-threatening conditions such as stroke.

6. Thyroid disease

According to the Australian Thyroid Foundationover 1 million Aussies are living with an undiagnosed thyroid condition.

“Associated with an autoimmune condition called Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism can not only make your eyes red and itchy, but in more severe cases it can cause swelling of the eye muscles that causes the eyeballs to bulge out and cause double vision,” said Sophie.

Bulging eyes are also known as eye protrusions and can also coincide with dry eyes, blurred vision or double vision.