Is the eye really the mirror of the heart? | Health

Although the expression “the eyes are the mirror of the heart” is usually used figuratively to indicate that a person’s gaze reveals their feelings or love, this expression has recently acquired a new meaning.

The work of the eyes is not just about seeing, but the eyes can tell us a lot. According to the latest medical findings, a simple eye exam can reveal some hidden or undiagnosed health issues.

how would it be? The network of blood vessels at the bottom of the eye, known as (Retina Vasculatur) or retinal blood vessels, is closely linked to heart health, which means that the problems we see in the eye can be directly related to health problems related to the heart and blood vessels of the human body.

Most ophthalmological medical examinations include examining the eye from the inside and the outside. To carry out this task, your ophthalmologist may use special binoculars to check the integrity of the pupil and its reactions to light, lens, retina and optic nerve. . What are the medical conditions that can be investigated by an eye exam?

Health problems that can be detected by an eye exam

Hypertension

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood flow is too great for the walls of the arteries. This condition can damage the major vessels responsible for delivering blood to the eye, which can lead to bleeding inside the eye, blurred vision, swelling, swelling, blood clots, lesions optic nerve or even blood clots in the retina which may be associated with loss of vision.

An ophthalmologist can examine blood vessels in the eye wall and detect high blood pressure and even diabetes without having to use a standard blood pressure monitor.

The size ratio of arterioles to arterioles in the blood retina is usually about two or three times greater. If the arteries are much smaller than the arterioles, or if the arteriole is very large and dilated, this may indicate high blood pressure or cardiovascular risk factors.

In some cases, the patient may not know they have high blood pressure, which may not give any physical signs or symptoms, but even then, it can lead to other heart problems such as angina. chest and strokes. eye exam to refer the ophthalmologist to this problem. Note that in some cases, the change in the size of the blood vessels in the eye indicates the presence of a tiny clot that does not affect vision and therefore high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol are detected .

clogged arteries

High blood pressure isn’t the only health problem that can be detected by a routine eye exam. In some cases, the doctor notices a blood clot in the eye resulting from a clot in the carotid artery, which is the main artery that supplies blood to the head and neck, or it may be caused by a blood clot in the heart.

Arterial clots occur when they cross an artery and lodge in tiny blood vessels or in organs such as the brain or retina. This condition causes a blood vessel to become blocked or blocked, which can lead to tissue damage, blood clots, blindness, or even death.

Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the diseases that can be detected by a routine eye exam. However, the slow progression of diabetes symptoms can often prevent a prompt diagnosis.

High blood sugar can cause several problems with the tiny blood vessels in the eye. In this case, the patient could be at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which in turn could lead to blindness and heart and kidney problems. Of course, diabetes is closely linked to heart disease.

Blindness due to diabetes or heart problems can be avoided by following prevention and patient care advice. Where a simple eye examination can help the patient become aware of these problems early and attempt to start appropriate treatment.

rheumatism;

Not only is heart disease the health condition that a simple eye exam can detect, but it can also detect systemic inflammatory diseases that can lead to rheumatism and inflammation in various organs and parts of the body. These various diseases can lead to inflammation of the eyes and lead to pain, redness and loss of vision.

For example, dry eyes can indicate many of these health conditions. If these symptoms are neglected, especially if they get worse, they can damage the pupil, which is the transparent convex part at the front of the eye that needs constant hydration.

anemia

Although doctors prefer not to rely on the color of the covered part of the lower eyelid to determine the incidence of anemia or even iron deficiency, it is no secret that if you shoot the lower lid of the eye, the tiny blood vessels which in the normal state gives a healthy pink color will appear. In the case of anemia, especially in the chronic or acute condition, the color of the inner eyelid is sometimes white or even yellow, especially when associated with other liver-related health problems.

exhaustion

Although fatigue is not a heart health issue, it actually affects the health of the heart, nervous system, and overall body. Fatigue is evident on the eyelids, clarity of vision, redness of the white part of the eye and blackness under the eye.

Fatigue is often associated with lack of sleep, chronic stress and anxiety, and can also indicate malnutrition issues. Fatigue is usually an emergency that can be treated with rest, sleep, and self-care, except in medical cases that require medical advice and intervention.