From simple first impressions, baggy or darkened eyelids can convey a sleep-deprived body and general fatigue while a yellowish sclera may convey the presence of an eye infection or a general infection.
From a doctor’s perspective, a quick examination of the eyes allows remarkable insight into the condition of internal blood vessels along with specific aspects of the brain. Numerous conditions can be diagnosed and improvement or deterioration detected by observing for characteristic changes in the eyes. Conditions with manifestations specific to the eyes include cataracts and glaucoma. Others that are reflective of a multi-organ relationship include diabetes and the muscle-degenerating condition known as myasthenia gravis.
Eye-related Conditions
Macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma occur specifically in the eyes and are often age-related. In macular degeneration, the retinal pigment epithelium begins to wear out and is unable to deal with retinal metabolic byproducts. This results in deterioration that often extends to deeper layers like the choroid. The dry form of macular degeneration occurs with the development of small, yellowish deposits under the macula. The wet form occurs with leakage or bleeding under the macula and can result in dense scarring below the retina. Vision loss is commonly not reversible but laser therapy is often able to prevent or reduce further loss.
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes gradually more opaque so as to obscure vision. It may develop from eye injuries and inflammation and may be accelerated by factors like diabetes and smoking. Surgery with an artificial lens implant is often effective in restoring lost vision.
Glaucoma occurs when there is optic nerve injury usually resulting from an increased internal pressure of the eye. With optic nerve damage comes a gradual loss of peripheral vision that can be detected by a visual field test. Treatment options include eyedrops that can reduce pressure by improving flow in the blood vessels of the eyes, oral medicines that reduce fluid production in the eyes, laser therapy that physically improves fluid filtration and surgery that provides an alternative route for fluid to gradually drain out from the eyes.
Hormone-related Conditions
Conditions like Grave’s disease and diabetes can manifest symptoms related but not necessarily specific to the eyes. Diabetes can often be associated with episodes of blurred vision. These occur as a result of changing levels of blood sugar that cause alterations in the thickness of the lens. A more significant diabetes-related eye disorder is retinopathy. Central vision loss as a result of retinal swelling is characteristic of early retinopathy. Laser therapy is a useful option except where vision loss results from blocked macula capillaries and for which no useful therapy exists currently. With advancing diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels grow and spread within the eyes. These are often fragile and may tear resulting in bleeds within the eye that obscure vision. Laser therapy or surgery may be the preferred option depending on the nature and severity of bleeding.
Keeping Up with Good Health
Eyes react to the environment just as much as they do to the body. They may swell and become red in dusty environments or with excessive alcohol consumption, change in appearance with emotion or become dry in places with low humidity.
Eyes remain invaluable in providing us with our view of the world and they go well beyond doing just that. They also continually provide us with important clues to our internal workings and cues that we would do well to heed in achieving and maintaining good health.
