14 Things Your Eyes Can Tell You About Your Health (If you know what look for)

The following list can help you find out how your eyes can reveal the state of your inner organs.

DISAPPEARING EYEBROWS

If you notice that the outer third of your eyebrow is disappearing, it may be a sign of a thyroid disease.

A STYE THAT WON’T GO AWAY

This may indicate a rare cancer known as sebaceous gland carcinoma, especially if it doesn`t clear up in three months, or if keeps recurring in the same location.

BURNING EYES, BLURRY VISION WHILE USING A COMPUTER

This is commonly known as the “computer vision syndrome” (CVS). Eyestrain occurs due to lack of contrast on a computer screen, and the extra work involved in focusing on pixels.

A SMALL BLIND SPOT IN YOUR VISION, WITH SHIMMERING LIGHTS OR A WAVY LINE

This is a symptom of a migraine, and it may or may not be accompanied by a headache.

WHITES OF THE EYE TURNED YELLOWISH

This is a symptom of jaundice. It is a condition which occurs in newborns with immature liver function, or adults with problems of the liver, gallbladder, or bile ducts.

EYES THAT SEEM TO BULGE

Protruding eyes is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).

SUDDEN DOUBLE VISION, DIM VISION, OR LOSS OF VISION

Possible symptoms of a stroke.

BLURRED VISION IN A DIABETIC

Diabetic retinopathy is a common side effect of diabetes. It is a condition in which diabetes affects the circulatory system of the eye. This is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. The concerning fact is that nearly 1 in 4 Americans are either pre-diabetic or diabetic.

IS POOR VISION INEVITABLE AS YOU AGE?

In general, it is not.

However, modern lifestyles often contribute to poor vision. According to studies, people who are over 60, apart from glasses, may also need high-quality supplements in order to support their vision.

You may also need additional vision support if:

  • You smoke
  • You’reobese
  • You’re diabetic
  • You spend a lot of time staring at a computer

According to iridology, your eyes can tell a lot about your systematic health.

In The Yahoo Health article you can find some interesting links between the eyes and your general health.

Iridology, or iridodiagnosis, is an alternative medicine technique which studies the iris of your eye.

The practitioners of these technique claim that certain characteristics, such as colors and patterns can reveal significant information about your overall health.

Natural, Common-Sense Strategies to Help Protect Healthy Vision

  1. Quit Smoking

Smoking increases the production of free radicals in the body which can negatively affect the quality of your vision.

  1. Care for your cardiovascular system

High blood pressure can damage the miniscule blood vessels on the retina. You can maintain your blood pressure normal by avoiding fructose. According to a research by Dr. Richard Johnson, a chief of the division of kidney disease and hypertension at the University of Colorado, consuming 74 grams or more fructose in a day (equal to 2.5 sugary drinks) can increase your blood pressure by 77 percent.

  1. Normalize your blood sugar

High blood sugar levels can obstruct the blood flow in the retina and also damage the blood vessels in your retina.

  1. Eat plenty of fresh dark green leafy vegetables, especially kale

Studies have found that regular consumption of green leafy vegetables can significantly improve your eye health. These vegetables are abundant in lutein and zeaxanthin which can improve the quality of your vision.

  1. Get plenty of healthy omega-3 fat

A study published in the August 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology found that omega-3 fatty acids can protect your vision. However, fish is no longer the best source of omega-3 fats since the pollution on fish farms is on high levels. Krill oil is extremely beneficial and it contains astaxanthin.

  1. Avoid trans fats

These fats can lead to macular degeneration. They are commonly found in processed food and baked goods, including fired foods, fried chicken, margarine, doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers.

7. Avoid aspartame

One of the many acute symptoms of aspartame poisoning is problems with eyesight.

Antioxidants—Your Greatest Allies for Healthy Eyes

Antioxidants play a key role in protecting your body from damage that free radicals may cause. Several antioxidants have been proved as particularly beneficial:

  • Lutein
  • Zeaxanthin
  • Black currant anthocyanins
  • Astaxanthin

Lutein Helps Protect Your Central Vision

The first two antioxidants are found in the macula lutea and their roles are :

  1. To absorb excess photon energy, and
  2. To quench free-radicals before they damage the lipid membranes

The highest concentration of lutein in your eyes in found in the macula- the central part of the eye retina which is responsible for straight-ahead and detailed vision. More precisely, lutein is found in the macular pigment and it protects the central vision.

Lutein is a naturally occurring carotenoid which can be found in green leafy vegetables and in yellow and orange fruits.

ASTAXANTHIN—POWERFUL PROTECTION AGAINST TWO LEADING FORMS OF BLINDNESS

According to latest studies, astaxanthin is the most beneficial carotenoid for eye health and for prevention of blindness.

It is more powerful than lutein and zeaxanthin, and can protect from various vision-related problems, such as:

  • Cataracts
  • Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Glaucoma
  • Retinal arterial occlusion
  • Venous occlusion
  • Cystoid macular edema
  • Inflammatory eye diseases (i.e., retinitis, iritis, keratitis, and scleritis)

Therefore, this powerful antioxidant can protect you from macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.

It is recommended that you take 2 to 4mg of astaxanthin on daily basis.