The “Eyes” Have It
The eyes have been called “the window to the soul” but it turns out they could also be called “the window to your health.”
When we hear “eye exam,” who doesn’t immediately think of sitting in an uncomfortable chair, struggling to decide which is clearer—1 or 2? But eye exams are so much more than that. Not only can they detect traditional eye concerns like cataracts and glaucoma, they can also diagnose everything from high blood pressure and diabetes to multiple sclerosis.
High blood pressure. With about 74.5 million adults in the U.S. suffering from high blood pressure yet almost a quarter not knowing they have it, help in making a diagnosis is crucial. This is especially true since high blood pressure can often have no symptoms—even while increasing one’s likelihood of a heart attack, stroke or kidney damage.
When eye doctors shine that bright light onto the back of our eyes, they are looking for hypertensive retinopathy, an eye disease caused by high blood pressure that damages the blood vessels in the retina. If eye doctors see any signs (symptoms can vary but may include bleeding, narrowing of blood vessels, fluid oozing and/or swelling of the optic nerve), a trip to the doctor to get blood pressure levels tested is in order.
Diabetes. Over 5 million Americans have diabetes and do not know it, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels in the retina), which blinds up to 25,000 people with diabetes each year. The good news is after dilating a patient’s eyes, an eye doctor can see the status of the blood vessels and refer him or her to a physician if they see signs of diabetes.
Other diseases. While not as common as high blood pressure or diabetes, other diseases can also be revealed through a detailed eye exam. Patients with Grave’s Disease (an autoimmune disease involving the thyroid) may have eyes that protrude and experience limited eye movement, while those with lupus or arthritis may have inflammation in the whites of their eyes along with dryness. Eye movement problems can be a sign of multiple sclerosis and sickle cell disease can be detected by the appearance of abnormal retinal vessels and/or bleeding within the retina.
5 Vitamins for Healthy Eyes
We’ve all been told to eat our carrots to help our eyesight. Turns out it wasn’t just mom trying to get us to eat more veggies. Vitamins and minerals have been found to promote good eye health and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and other eye problems.
Vitamin A. Necessary for the health of various eye structures, including the retina. Found in: spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, fortified milk, liver and eggs.
Vitamin C. Known for boosting our immune system, this powerhouse can also help the eyes. Sources include: citrus fruits, papaya, green peppers, strawberries and broccoli.
Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been found to not only prevent cataracts but to delay their growth if they have already begun to form. Found in: nuts, certain oils (such as safflower and corn), green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals.
Selenium and Zinc. Though not a vitamin, these two minerals help us absorb the necessary antioxidants to keep our bodies healthy—including the vitamins listed above. Zinc is in fortified cereals, beef, pork, yogurt and cheese, while selenium can be found in certain nuts and enriched breads, rice and pasta.
And, the National Institute of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH) reports that vitamins A, C and E all need to be taken together with zinc to reap the benefits of preventing age-related eye diseases.
Fun in the Sun(glasses)
When it comes to protecting ourselves from the sun, sunscreen is a no brainer but not everyone thinks to wear sunglasses. Danger from the sun can include everything from a burned cornea, which can happen in just one day, to a greater likelihood of cataracts years later.
And just because a pair of sunglasses has dark lenses don’t think that’s all you need. Make sure they have special UV filters by checking the label. Lenses should block at least 95 percent of UVA and 99 percent of UVB rays.
Instead of taking vision for granted until a problem pops up, put in a little preventative maintenance now with a healthy diet, proper pair of sunglasses and a yearly trip to the eye doctor. Your eyes will thank you for it.
Did You Know?
Sunglasses should be worn all year round even on cloudy days and especially in the snow. Not only is the UV light stronger and more dangerous at higher elevations but snow reflects up to 85 percent of ultraviolet rays back into the eyes.
Kristen Stewart is a freelance writer specializing in health, nutrition, parenting and lifestyle topics. To learn more, visit her website at www.kristenestewart.com.
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