Health Conditions That May Affect Your Eyesight

It's crucial to look after your general health if you want to have a strong vision for a lifetime. Protecting your eyes from the sun and trauma is vital, but eating well, exercising regularly, and getting regular examinations might help you avoid other eye problems later in life.

Let's look at a few medical disorders and how they can affect your vision changes and eye health.

• Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is a disorder that affects people who have had diabetes for a long time. The blood vessels of the eye bleed onto the retina in this disorder caused by high blood sugar, which can cause major vision changes like vision loss and even blindness. Diabetics are also more likely to acquire cataracts and glaucoma.

See Also: How does diabetic macular edema affect your vision

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Blood pressure difficulties have been linked to various health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. High BP might damage blood vessels in and around the eyes over time which can lead to various eye problems.

• Measles

Although many people are vaccinated against measles, the disease nevertheless affects children and adults. Conjunctivitis can occur if measles affects the eyes. If the inflammation worsens, cornea infections, corneal damage, infections of the optic nerve, and even vision loss can occur.

• Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, like measles, can cause catastrophic vision loss if it causes eye infections. Inflammation can affect the center area of the eye (uveitis), the optic nerve, and even the blood vessels of the retinas, in addition to causing conjunctivitis.

• Shingles

Shingles are a painful virus that causes blisters and rashes all over the body. Eye problems like pain, inflammation around the eyes, and swelling of the eyelids can occur if they impact the face (especially the eye area).

• Autoimmune Diseases

A variety of autoimmune illnesses might have an impact on your vision. In many situations, vision difficulties are one of the first signs of autoimmune disease. You may have red eyes, itchy eyes, or dry eyes early on. You may also experience eye pain, light sensitivity, changes in vision quality, and even vision loss if the problem goes misdiagnosed or untreated.

• Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes facial redness. Dry eyes, itchy eyes, a burning sensation around the eyes, and redness of the eyes can all be symptoms of Rosacea around the eyes. Swelling of the eyelids and increased sensitivity to light are also possible side effects.

• Liver Cirrhosis 

Cirrhosis, a type of liver illness, can cause a variety of eye problems, including dry eye and itching and fat deposits on the eyelids. If the problem is not treated, it can lead to corneal and lens damage. Hence, it would help to look for an eye care hospital near you when you are diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

• Malnutrition

A bad diet can have a lot of negative consequences for your general health and well-being, including vision changes. If you eat improperly, you're more likely to get diabetes and high blood pressure. A deficiency in specific vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and lutein, can increase the risk of age-related eye problems, including macular degeneration.

• Sickle Cell Disease 

People who have irregularly formed blood cells are at risk for a variety of health problems. These abnormal blood cells can cause damage to blood vessels in the eyes in people with sickle cell disease, which can lead to blindness if not treated promptly.

When to See a Doctor?

As we get older, vision changes are to be expected. However, if you notice sudden vision changes, it's a sign that something is wrong, and it's time to see an eye doctor. Vision changes that occur suddenly, such as blurriness, blind spots, halos around lights, or weak vision, should be addressed by an eye doctor.

See Also: How to Improve Your Vision and Effectively Decrease Eye Strain

When left untreated, vision changes worsen over time, resulting in permanent damage. If your vision becomes blurry abruptly and is accompanied by a strong headache, stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting, it could be a sign of a stroke or an acute glaucoma episode. You should immediately search for the best eye hospital near you and seek emergency medical attention in that case.

If you are looking for an eye specialist doctor in Kolkata, contact us today to schedule an appointment or walk-in at our hospital in Barakhola for an emergency condition. We have got some of the best ophthalmologists in Kolkata who are committed to improving your vision along with overall health and wellness.