From Diabetes to Cancer: How Your Eyes Can Spot the Early Signs of Serious Health Risks

Imagine suddenly seeing double vision without any prior injury or trauma, just like Melissa, a 30-year-old educator who faced this troubling symptom. A few months earlier, she had noticed a brief blurriness in one eye, but dismissed it as fatigue from too much screen time. After basic and advanced vision tests, her symptoms pointed to multiple sclerosis. A neuro-ophthalmologist confirmed the diagnosis and Melissa began treatment immediately. (Also read: Can vision trigger paranoid thoughts? Study examines how eyes and mental health are related )

Discover how eye symptoms can indicate underlying health problems. (Freepik)

Melissa’s story is not unusual. Langis Michaud, an optometrist with 30 years of experience, explains in an article for The Conversation that many patients discover underlying health problems based on eye symptoms. As a professor at the Faculty of Optometry at the Université de Montréal, Michaud makes it a priority to teach students how eye problems can indicate broader health problems and to work closely with medical professionals to ensure patients receive the right care.

Early detection of diabetes and eye health

With diabetes expected to affect nearly 8% of the population by 2030, early screening is essential. However, diabetes is often not diagnosed until 6 to 13 years after onset. An eye exam can help detect the disease earlier because characteristic lesions at the back of the eye may appear before other symptoms develop.

Eye health can help detect early signs of diabetes. (Twitter/ModernRetina)

Early diagnosis is crucial. Within five years of discovery, 25% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin may develop vision-threatening eye lesions. Timely detection and regular monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of blindness from untreated diabetes.

High blood pressure and cholesterol in the eyes

High blood pressure and high cholesterol often go unnoticed, but they pose a serious risk of heart disease and stroke. Surprisingly, the eyes can detect early signs of these diseases without invasive procedures. The eye’s blood vessels are visible, providing a unique insight into vascular health.

Blurred vision, gray, white, and yellow deposits around the cornea, and yellow bumps around your eyes can all indicate worrisome high cholesterol levels. (Pinterest)

High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer,” can show signs such as narrowing of blood vessels or damage to the retina. Likewise, high cholesterol levels can lead to visible cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels, so-called Hollenhorst plaques, or appear as lipid sheets in the cornea and yellowish spots (xanthelasma) around the eyes. Because symptoms can be subtle or progress gradually, many patients mistake them for normal changes. Regular eye exams can help detect these problems early and initiate timely intervention.

Glaucoma: The Silent Vision Thief

Glaucoma, a silent disease of the optic nerve, often has no symptoms. The cause is usually high eye pressure due to excessive aqueous humor or problems with drainage, leading to a gradual loss of nerve fibers and narrowing of the field of vision. By the time vision loss becomes noticeable, significant, often irreparable nerve damage can occur. Chronic glaucoma can be caused by eye problems or medications such as cortisone.

Treatment of glaucoma is much more successful if started in the early stages of the disease, when vision loss is minimal. (Shutterstock)

However, normotensive glaucoma occurs when eye pressure is normal and is associated with low blood pressure or conditions such as sleep apnea. Patients with this type require a thorough medical evaluation of the underlying causes.

How cancer can be detected through eye exams

Cancer, often called the disease of the century due to its widespread nature, can also affect the eyes, such as retinoblastoma, and spread to other organs such as the lungs and liver. Many cancers, including those that affect the eye, develop without symptoms, so early detection is important for survival.

Certain pigmentation disorders in the retina, such as those in the shape of a bear paw, may be associated with colon cancer, which has a poor prognosis if left untreated. Visual field tests can reveal problems that patients may not notice or think are minor, but may indicate serious conditions such as brain tumors or nerve compression.

Symptoms such as abnormal eye movements, uneven pupil responses, sudden difficulty reading, or double vision are warning signs that require a thorough ocular and neurological examination. The eyes serve as a window into overall health. Regular visits to the optician are essential, even without symptoms, in order to identify and correct potential health problems at an early stage.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any questions about a medical condition, always seek advice from your doctor.