10 Health Conditions That Can Indirectly Impact Eye Health

Some medical conditions, though not directly related to your eyes, can have lasting effects on your eyesight and may cause serious eye problems if not treated. Regardless of whether the health condition is genetic or environmental, your body can recover faster and stay healthier with routine eye exams, a healthy diet, and regular exercise.

1. Diabetes

Around one in ten people in the United States have diabetes, and one in three have prediabetes.

Diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, where high blood pressure damages blood vessels leading to the retina and causes retinal detachment. Those with diabetic retinopathy are likely to have blurry vision, with dark spots within their line of sight.

One in three people with diabetes over the age of 40 are likely to have early signs of diabetic retinopathy. Doctors can treat it by prescribing medicine or using laser treatments. You can avoid diabetic retinopathy by visiting your doctor regularly and managing your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

2. High Blood Pressure

Nearly half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and only one in four properly manage their hypertension. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eye and even cause glaucoma.

Glaucoma occurs when there is increased pressure within the eye, often linked to fluid build-up. Doctors test annually for glaucoma since there are no outward symptoms of early glaucoma. Those with glaucoma will have gradual and irreversible vision loss if left untreated.

Your doctor will treat high blood pressure with medication and recommend that you eat leafy green vegetables, exercise for 30 minutes, five times a week, and wear sunglasses to prevent high eye pressure.

3. Migraines

Migraines are severe headaches that cause light and sound sensitivity. Bright light, sun glare, and strong smells are all common triggers for those who experience migraines. Changing your sleep or missing a night of sleep can also cause migraines.

Another type of migraine is an ocular migraine. Ocular migraines are less painful than traditional migraines and primarily affect your vision. During an ocular migraine, the blood vessels in the optic nerve tighten and swell, causing visual distortions (sometimes like looking through a kaleidoscope).

Those who experience ocular migraines should try to relax and wait for the migraine to end. Medication may help prevent ocular migraines.

4. Liver Disease

Liver disease can cause a wide variety of eye problems. One of the most well-known is jaundice, a disease that causes the eyes and skin to take on a yellowish hue. A person experiences jaundice when the liver stops processing red blood cells.

Liver disease can also cause bumps on the eyelids called cholesterol bumps. These bumps are a sign that you have higher-than-normal fat stores in the liver.

Liver disease can also cause dry eyes or bloodshot eyes. If you have a history of liver problems or drink alcohol regularly and are experiencing problems with your eyes, you should visit your doctor.

5. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the infected bite of a tick. A person with Lyme disease will see a bullseye-shaped rash develop where they were first bit, and they may also experience a fever, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

Lyme disease can cause conjunctivitis, also known as “pink eye.” A person with pink eye will have red, gritty, and itchy eyes with discharge forming around the eyeball and eyelid.

In serious cases of Lyme disease, the optic nerve can become inflamed, which can cause eye pain, loss of color vision, blurred vision, and vision loss.

Those with Lyme disease should seek medical help to prevent symptoms from worsening.

6. Autoimmune Conditions

Problems with the eye are among the first symptoms of an autoimmune disorder or condition. Some autoimmune conditions that affect vision include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, and Graves’ disease.

Some common eye problems associated with autoimmune conditions include dry or red eyes, visual changes, vision loss, foreign-body sensation, eye pain, itching, and light sensitivity.

Treating the autoimmune condition can prevent your eyes from experiencing lasting damage.

7. Rosacea

About 14 million Americans have rosacea, a skin disease that causes redness and acne-like bumps on the face. Rosacea can also affect the eyes in a condition called ocular rosacea.

Ocular rosacea causes red, itchy, irritated eyes. Those with severe ocular rosacea may also experience light sensitivity, infection, and vision loss.

Those with ocular rosacea can take medication to limit their symptoms. They should also have regular appointments with their eye physician to help monitor their eye care and ensure that they’re not engaging in activities that could worsen the condition.

8. Sickle Cell Disease

About 1.5% of babies born in the United States are born with sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is more common in Black and African-American births, affecting 1 in 13 Black and African American births.

Those with SCD have C-shaped blood cells that are hard and sticky. Those with SCD are more likely to have anemia, infections, and vision problems.

Because the blood cells are hard, they can damage the blood vessels in the eyes. This can eventually lead to blindness if not treated.

9. Nutritional Deficiencies

It’s vital to get the right amount of nutrients in your diet. For optimal eye health, doctors recommend eating a diet that includes a wide range of colorful fruits and vegetables.

If you don’t currently eat a healthy diet, you could be deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin A. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to cataracts, blurred vision, and distorted vision.

Your eye doctor will need to perform minimally invasive surgery to get rid of cataracts on your eyes. If your cataracts result from nutritional deficiencies, you should aim to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet as well as take a multivitamin.

10. Rheumatic Diseases

Rheumatic diseases cause your immune system to attack your joints, muscles, and organs and are often referred to as arthritis. Rheumatic diseases can have mild to severe effects on the eyes.

In a mild case, rheumatic diseases may cause dry eyes or blurry vision. If dry eyes are left untreated, it can cause damage to the cornea and prevent your eye from focusing.

Rheumatic diseases may present a serious threat to your vision. If you have a rheumatic disease, you need to schedule regular visits with your eye doctor.