A Doctor Says These 4 Eye Changes Could Reveal Hidden Health Problems—Here’s What To Know
Plus, the one eye change that’s often normal after 50—but concerning if you’re younger
When it comes to changes in your overall health, there may be certain signs you pay close attention to. Maybe muscle aches are the first signal of a cold for you, or feeling very thirsty lets you know your blood sugar might be off. One area we tend to overlook: our eyes. It turns out your eyes are more than just “the windows to your soul”—certain eye changes can reveal a lot about your overall health. We spoke to experts to find out what to keep an eye out for (pun intended) and what to do if something seems off.
Your eyes are a sign of your overall health
“Our eyes can be used to detect health issues,” says Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and Founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty. “An eye exam can reveal all sorts of problems related to your overall health. I’ve caught a number of diseases in my patients through routine eye exams.”
Dr. Hilal-Campo says regular eye exams are an important part of your healthcare screenings, not just for catching things like vision problems, dry eye or other eye conditions, but also for sneaky underlying conditions that may be harder to spot. “I’ve detected brain tumors because of swelling of the optic nerves,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “I referred those patients for an MRI, and the scans confirmed the presence of a tumor.”
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4 eye changes that can signal a health issue
Regular visits to your ophthalmologist are the first step toward keeping your eyes healthy and can help detect any subtle changes that may signal a health issue. That said, there are also visible changes in your eye that can warrant a trip to your doctor. They include:
Yellowing eyes
“Scleral icterus is the yellowing of the whites of the eyes,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “It’s caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood—a yellow pigment that forms when your body breaks down red blood cells. Normally, the liver processes bilirubin and it’s excreted from the body in bile.”
Dr. Hilal-Campo, explains how scleral icterus is developed. “If there’s a medical problem with the liver, gallbladder or bile ducts—if they’re not working properly—or from various other medical conditions, bilirubin can build up in the body,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “This leads to yellow discoloration of the skin, called jaundice, and yellowing of the whites of the eyes, called icterus.”
The condition can impact people of any age, from newborns to adults. Adults with health conditions involving the liver (such as liver cirrhosis, an advanced form of fatty liver disease), bile ducts or gallbladder can be affected.
Treatment for this eye problem depends on what’s causing it. “Addressing the underlying problem is the only way it can be resolved,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “If someone has scleral icterus, it’s definitely a sign of a medical issue, and they should see a doctor to determine the cause.”
A ring around the eye
“Arcus senilis is a white, blue or gray crescent-shaped arc that appears at the edge of the limbus—where the cornea meets the white sclera—and it usually extends all around the cornea to form a ring,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo.
With this eye issue, whether it’s normal and what could be causing it connects back to age. “It’s a normal part of aging for patients over 50 and is generally considered benign,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “However, if you’re under 50, it can indicate a lipid disorder. It occurs due to the deposition of fatty acids, such as cholesterol, which causes the white or opaque ring. So, if you’re younger than 50 and notice these [eye] changes, you should see your medical doctor to make sure you don’t have high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels.”
In some cases, alcohol consumption could also trigger this eye change, Dr. Hilal-Campo notes. So how do you treat it? “It’s benign and there is no treatment needed” in older adults says Dr. Hilal-Campo. That said, if you experience this eye change under 50 and your doctor determines an underlying health issue, you’ll want to address that condition separately.
Worth noting: “If [this change] is seen in only one eye, that can be more concerning, as it may suggest possible carotid artery disease that requires medical attention.”
A growth on your eye or eyelid
A bump appearing on your eyelid or conjunctiva (the clear tissue over the white of your eye) could be a big health warning sign. “These growths need to be evaluated by your eye doctor because they are not always benign—they could be cancerous or caused by a virus,” Dr. Hilal-Campo reveals. “In some cases, they may need to be excised. You should never ignore a new growth on either your eyeball or eyelids.”
Red eyes
While we all get mild red eyes now and then after a late night, sudden redness could be cause for concern. “If you wake up with one or both eyes red—or notice redness at any time—it should be considered an eye emergency,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “Your eyes are not supposed to be red; redness is a sign that something is wrong. It could indicate inflammation, infection or even more serious underlying conditions, so you should see your eye doctor right away.”
By staying aware of your body’s signals—especially changes in your eyes—and keeping up with annual eye exams, you’re taking one of the smartest steps to protect your health.
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