1. Symptoms

Eye arteries are situated directly in front of each eye and their health can provide valuable clues as to someone’s overall cholesterol and cardiovascular risks. High cholesterol levels may result in changes to eye structures and vessels which your doctor can detect during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

For instance, if yellowish deposits appear around or around your eyes, this is known as xanthelasma and should be taken seriously as they indicate elevated cholesterol levels in your system. Though they won’t hinder vision directly, such fat deposits should prompt further investigation by seeking medical advice immediately.

High cholesterol levels may also manifest themselves visually as a thin grey ring that appears around the iris, signalling high cholesterol and raising your risk of retinal vein occlusion (in which blood vessels that feed back into your retina become blocked and may lead to permanent blindness).

Chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension can damage eye blood vessels, altering your vision. Regular eye exams are your best defense against such damage as well as common diseases of the eyes like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration; furthermore consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables (particularly dark leafy greens and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids) and stopping smoking are both critical components to keeping eyes healthy.

2. Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among people living with diabetes and one of the easiest eye diseases to prevent. Diabetics should arrange an annual eye exam that includes dilation to screen for early signs of diabetic Retinopathy.

At an eye exam, your eye doctor can inspect the back of the retina with special lighting and take photographs, to help detect areas of blood vessel leakage or abnormal growth of new blood vessels. They may also use fluorescein angiography – in this test a harmless orange-red dye is injected into a vein in your arm before traveling through veins in your retina before showing up on special filtered pictures of your retina and being evaluated by your physician for any damage to retina lining or abnormal new vessels.

At its onset, diabetic retinopathy entails small blood vessels swell and bulge before leaking clear fluid onto your retina, blurring your central field of vision – known as non-proliferative retinopathy or NPR. Later on, insufficient blood flow causes fragile new blood vessels to sprout both on the retina itself as well as within its clear gel-like center layer (vitreous humour). When these abnormal vessels leak they can lead to macular edema or even detachment from your retinal surface altogether – known as proliferative retinopathy (or PPR). This stage of diabetic retinopathy or PPR should be diagnosed early.

Regular screening and tight management of blood sugar can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, laser treatment or medication may even reverse some of the damage done during later stages.

Maintaining ideal blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels can lower your risk of vision loss due to diabetes. Scheduling regular comprehensive dilated eye exams is an excellent way to detect any symptoms of diabetic retinopathy early and treat them effectively; additionally, following a healthy diet and stopping smoking will lower future problems significantly.

3. Eyelid Problems

Small yellow fatty bumps on the eyelids known as xanthelasma can be an indicator of high cholesterol levels, while birthmark-like moles known as Nevus may appear on eyelids and change pigmentation or become painful; it is wise to consult a physician should these change as this could indicate Melanoma. Another issue on eyelids can include Dermatochalasis in which excess skin hangs over eyes obscuring vision, prompting surgery as a solution.

4. Eye Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which its ability to function normally deteriorates over time, typically as the pressure inside your eye rises too rapidly, damaging its optic nerve that transmits visual information to the brain and leading to permanent blindness as a result. It is the second leading cause of blindness. Symptoms of Glaucoma include blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, rainbow halos around lights and severe headaches. Open-angle Glaucoma is the most prevalent type. Glaucoma occurs when the drainage canal becomes narrower over time, restricting fluid from draining away from the eye. As pressure builds in the eye and damages optic nerves over time, vision loss occurs gradually. To detect early cases of this form of glaucoma before vision loss becomes irreparable. Regular comprehensive eye exams are essential in early diagnosis of this form of glaucoma.

Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when your iris (the colored part of your eye) moves close to or blocks the drainage angle in your eye, effectively cutting off its drainage system and leading to vision loss within hours unless treatment is provided immediately. Symptoms for this form of glaucoma include sudden blurring, redness in the eye, nausea, severe pain and vomiting.

Drusen (yellow fatty deposits on your skin around your eyes), commonly referred to as drusen, are an indicator that you have too much cholesterol or Graves’ Disease – a condition characterized by overactive thyroid glands – in your system. Other symptoms of this disorder may include protruding or bulging eyeballs, vision loss and dry eyes. If this describes you, consult with your physician regarding reducing cholesterol levels and scheduling regular eye exams. These steps may help prevent or slow the progression of glaucoma, an irreversible eye disease that can eventually lead to blindness. Visit Broberg Eye Care for an eye exam and to discuss your risk factors for this condition. Taking supplements containing vitamin C, selenium and lutein has been found to reduce chances of developing this disease as these nutrients help improve blood flow in the eyes and reduce pressure in them.