28th Oct 2024

12 Diseases an Eye Test Can Diagnose

Eye tests are used for more than just visual acuity. Receiving a complete eye exam on a regular basis is one of the most efficient strategies to diagnose and treat a variety of health issues.

1. Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most frequent conditions that may be discovered during an eye checkup. It happens when the retina's blood vessels expand, leak, or seal off, allowing aberrant new blood vessels to form on the retina.

An eye doctor may detect illness symptoms if they see blood vessels in the retina leaking yellow fluid or blood. This can happen even before the patient is diagnosed with diabetes. 

2. High Blood Pressure

An eye exam can also identify high blood pressure. In addition to heart and renal problems, high blood pressure can impair a patient's vision and create illnesses such as hypertensive retinopathy, which is retinal damage induced by high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is usually detected by eye physicians while the eyes are dilated for an inspection. Doctors frequently search for odd bends, kinks, or bleeding from blood vessels at the rear of the eye.

3. High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is a risk factor for a variety of significant health issues, including life-threatening strokes. It has also been connected to numerous eye disorders, such as:

• Xanthelasma

It is the most prevalent eye disease associated with excessive cholesterol. It refers to a raised yellowish region at the bottom of the eyes;

• Arcus senilis

It is a light-colored ring that grows on the outer of a patient's eye;

• High cholesterol

Its symptoms include hazy vision, black patches, and eye discomfort.

4. Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative illness of the central nervous system. Eye specialists can diagnose MS by examining for inflammation in the optic nerve.

5. Brain Tumors

A complete eye exam may reveal symptoms of a brain tumor. A tumor can raise pressure in the brain, which frequently travels to the eyes. Eye physicians detect this by examining for swelling toward the back of the eye.

Doctors can potentially discover brain tumors by checking for signs in the eye, such as loss of side vision, recent double vision, or pupil size abnormalities.

6. Stroke

Strokes are another dangerous condition that might be discovered with an eye exam. Strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, potentially resulting in permanent brain damage, long-term disability, or death.

7. Aneurysm

An aneurysm is the swelling of an artery caused by a weakness in its wall. This weakened wall has the potential to leak and burst, posing serious health risks.

An aneurysm can cause severe, one-sided headaches or loss of facial or bodily functions. These grave outcomes highlight the need of patients to have regular eye and medical checkups. 

8. Autoimmune Diseases

Eye examinations can help discover health issues including autoimmune illnesses. Some of these diseases are:

• Myasthenia gravis 

It is an autoimmune illness that causes muscles to weaken and fatigue. Typically, the earliest signs are in the eyes. These include drooping eyelids, double vision, and weakness in the arms and legs;

• Sjögren's syndrome 

In this condition, white blood cells target the tear and saliva glands. The most frequent symptoms are dry eyes, stinging feelings in the eyes, and blurred vision;

• Lyme disease 

This is an illness transmitted mostly by ticks that causes inflammation throughout the body. Patients frequently report floaters and irritation of the optic nerve.

9. Sexually Transmitted Infections

Many common sexually transmitted infections (STDs) can harm the eyes. Some examples include syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, genital warts, and pubic lice.

10.  Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory illness in which the body's immune system assaults its own tissues. Patients will often have discomfort or limited movement in their fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles. Ocular symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include a painful inflammation known as scleritis, in which a patient may have inflamed eyes and intense discomfort.

11. Lupus

Lupus develops when a person's immune system destroys their tissues and organs. This can have an impact on many different bodily components, including the eyes, joints, skin, and kidneys.

Lupus is frequently associated with dry eyes. It may also cause swelling in the whites of the eyes or light-sensitive tissue in the rear of the eye.

12. Sickle cell disease

Patients with this inherited blood condition produce rigid red blood cells, which impede blood flow throughout the body. Sickle cell disease can produce a variety of eye problems, including redness, ruptured red blood vessels, severe hemorrhaging, and retinal detachment.