Your eyes are the windows to your soul. They can also be a
window to your health.
If you notice certain eye changes, mention them to your eye
doctor or primary care provider. They could indicate allergies, diabetes, high
cholesterol, or eye health conditions
- White spots in the colored part of your eye
- Blurred vision
- A white ring
- Dry eyes and skin around the eyes
- Floaters, which are specks that move around
- A brownish patch in the whites
- White part of the eye turns yellow
Limit screen time
We tell kids all the time, but it’s important for adults to
shut down, too. Red, or broken blood vessels are a sign you’re straining your
eyes, a common cause is too much time in front of a screen.
It’s common to feel eye strain, headaches, neck pain, and
irritability after device use. While eye strain doesn’t damage the eyes, it can
be uncomfortable and simple care can reduce effects, according the American
Academy of Ophthalmology.
The Vision Council has recommendations to alleviate strain:
- Ask your eye doctor about glasses for
magnification and anti-reflective properties for digital use.
- Take frequent breaks from screens.
- Reducing overhead light can reduce screen glare.
- Sit about one arm’s length from the screen.
- Increase the text size on devices to read
without strain.
When using a computer, we blink approximately one-third as
often as we normally do. Remind your self to blink. You can also use
lubricating eye drops.
Diabetes
High-levels of sugar in the blood can affect the eye health,
so much so that eye doctors can diagnose diabetes just by looking at your eye.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to get regular eye
exams. Diabetes can
affect the blood vessels in your eyes and cause vision loss. See your eye
doctor at least once a year for a dilated eye exam. This is not considered a
routine eye exam, so it's covered under your medical plan, not vision.