5 diseases that your eyes can reveal (and how to check for them)

Diabetes (where the body doesn't produce enough insulin) can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy. It can cause blurry vision, dark spots, and even blindness in the long-term.

What to Look For:

Blurred or fluctuating vision

Dark or empty spots in your field of vision

Difficulty seeing colors clearly

How to Check:

If you are diabetic, regular eye exams are crucial. An eye doctor uses a special tool called an ophthalmoscope to look inside your eyes. They may also take photos of your retina using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) or retinal imaging to detect early damage.

High Blood Pressure, also known as Hypertension, can cause changes in the blood vessels of your eyes, known as hypertensive retinopathy. It can lead to vision problems and is also a warning sign of damage to other organs like the heart and kidneys.

What to Look For:

Blurred vision

Headaches or eye pain

Redness or swelling in the eyes

How to Check:

During an eye exam, doctors check the condition of your retinal blood vessels. Narrowing, bleeding, or swelling in these vessels can indicate high blood pressure that should be dealt with immediately. Sometimes, these signs show up before you feel any other symptoms, making these exams extremely important.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often due to high pressure inside the eye. It can cause gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision and eventually blindness if untreated. While Glaucoma is not reversible, its growth can be halted through treatment, and medicine.

What to Look For:

Loss of side vision

Seeing halos around lights

Eye pain or redness (in some types)

How to Check:

Eye doctors measure the pressure inside your eyes using a test called tonometry. They also examine the optic nerve with special cameras or microscopes. Visual field tests check your peripheral vision to detect early glaucoma. Regular screening is important because glaucoma often has no symptoms until it is advanced, and starts causing problems.

AMD affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision. It causes loss of central vision, making it hard to read, recognize faces, or see details. It is usually age related, and quite common in individuals over 45 years of age.

What to Look For:

Straight lines appearing wavy or distorted

Blurred or dark spots in the center of your vision

Difficulty seeing fine details

How to Check:

An eye doctor can detect AMD through a retinal exam and tests like the Amsler grid, a simple chart with a grid of lines. If the lines appear wavy or missing, it could indicate AMD. Advanced imaging like OCT provides detailed pictures of the macula to monitor disease progression.

Yes, eyes can also indicate anemia. Certain blood disorders like anemia can be detected by changes in the eyes. Pale inner eyelids or unusual blood vessel patterns in the retina may signal low red blood cell counts or other issues.

What to Look For:

Pale or yellowish eyes

Red or inflamed eyes

Unusual blood vessel changes seen during an eye exam

How to Check:

Eye doctors can spot signs of anemia or other blood problems during a thorough eye exam. They may notice pale conjunctiva (the inner eyelid) or retinal hemorrhages (small bleeding spots) that suggest blood disorders. Further blood tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic - Eye Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Oscar Wylee - How to Detect Eye Disease

WebMD - Detecting Eye Diseases and Conditions