Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 9-23-22

Health
Your eyes are more than a window to your soul. They can also give you some insight into what’s going on with your health. While changes in your vision don’t have to be related to a chronic illness, there are certain conditions that are known to affect your eye health. Sometimes, trouble with your vision is a sure sign that an illness is not managed well.
1. Blurry Vision In Both Eyes
Peple who have had dia- betes for some time can expe- rience a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. As your blood sugar levels rise, it can damage the blood vessels at the back of the retina. Since the retina is the light-sensitive part of the eye, you can have blurry vision. If the issue isn’t addressed, you run the risk of going blind. Other symptoms to look out for are increased thirst, constant fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
2. Constant Pressure Behind The Eyes
If you always feel pressure behind the eyes, it usually means that your blood pres- sure is too high. This pressure can damage the blood vessels that lead to your eyes, which in turn can affect your vision.
People with high blood pres- sure can also experience chest pains, severe headaches, and difficulty breathing.
3. Red Eyes
The medical term for red eyes is conjunctivitis and one condition that can cause this is measles. Adults don’t catch it often but it’s definitely a possi- bility. It’s worth checking out because a few of the complica-
tions from measles include corneal damage and infections. Other symptoms of the illness are a high fever, runny nose, and cough.
4. Inflamed, Infected Eyes
Lyme disease can affect the eyes in a similar way to measles. However, the disease can also cause inflammation in the middle part of the eye, optic nerve, and blood vessels in the retina. Signs of Lyme disease are fatigue, headache, and a rash.
5. Swollen Eyelids
With shingles, people de- velop painful rashes and blis- ters around the body. If they affect the face, you might have inflammation around the eyes, eye pain, and swollen eyelids. It’s best to get the condition treated by a doctor quickly. A few other symptoms of shin- gles are fever, headache, and itchy skin.
6. Frequent Dry Eyes
If your eyes are dry all the
time, an autoimmune condi- tion could be the cause. These conditions are known for influ- encing how the immune sys- tem attacks healthy issues so the eyes may be affected. Your eyes may also be red and itchy. Since the symptoms of autoim- mune diseases can vary, pay attention to things like chronic fatigue and changes in your appetite.
7. Burning Sensation Around The Eyes
When people experience burning around the eyes com- bined with dry, itchy, or red eyes, they may have a skin con- dition known as rosacea. Occa- sionally, the condition also causes swollen eyelids and light sensitivity. With the right medication and skincare regi- men, however, you can keep it under control.
8. Constant Itchy Eyes
Problems with the liver can cause irritation and the build- up of fat throughout the body. If your liver is damaged, you may get dry itchy eyes and fat
collection on the eyelids. When left untreated, liver disease often leads to damaged corneas and lenses. Other symptoms to look out for are swollen ankles, yellowing in the skin, and constant nausea.
9. Worsening Vision
A proper diet is important to maintaining your eye health. People who aren’t getting the food they need can suffer from malnutrition, which damages the eyes over time. If not cor- rected, you can be at a higher risk of macular degeneration as you age. Other signs of mal- nutrition are chronic fatigue, poor concentration, and get- ting ill easily.
10. Damaged Blood Vessels In The Eyes
The abnormal blood cells in sickle cell disease can dam- age the eyes’ blood vessels. If the condition isn’t managed well, you can eventually lose your vision. Other symptoms of sickle cell disease are swollen extremities, painful episodes, and chronic fatigue.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 9-B