- 1. Red eyes
- 2. Eyes shaking
- 3. Yellow eyes
- 4. Protruding eyes
- 5. Eyes with gray ring
- 6. Eye with white cloud
- 7. Drooping eyelids
Most of the time, the changes in the eye are not a sign of a serious problem, being more frequent due to tiredness or a slight irritation of its coating, caused by dry air or dust, for example. This type of changes lasts about 1 to 2 days and disappears on its own, without the need for treatment.
However, when changes appear that last for more than 1 week or cause any type of discomfort, they can indicate the presence of some health problem, such as infection or liver problems. In these cases, it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist to identify if there is any disease that needs to be treated.
1. Red eyes
In most cases, red eyes are caused by an irritation of the eye, which can happen due to very dry air, dust, use of lenses and even minor trauma caused by the nail, for example. This type of alteration causes only a slight burning sensation and, sometimes, it can present only a small red spot on the white of the eye, which disappears alone in a few minutes or hours, not needing specific treatment.
See in this video the main causes of red eyes:
However, when other signs such as severe itching, excessive tears or sensitivity to light appear, the red eye can also be a sign of allergy or infection, and it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist to start the appropriate treatment. Know when it may be an eye infection.
2. Eyes shaking
The shaking eye is usually a sign of tiredness and, therefore, it is very common when you are in front of the computer for a long time or straining your eyes. Usually, the problem causes a slight tremor that comes and goes and can last up to 2 or 3 days.
However, when the tremor is more frequent and lasts more than 1 week to disappear, it can also indicate other problems such as lack of vitamins, vision problems or dry eye. See in which situations the shaky eye can indicate health problems.
3. Yellow eyes
The presence of a yellowish tint in the eyes is usually a sign of jaundice, an alteration that happens due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, which is a substance produced by the liver. So, when this happens, it is very common to suspect some disease or inflammation in the liver, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or even cancer.
These types of problems are more common in the elderly or those who eat a poorly balanced diet and drink alcohol frequently, for example. So, if there is yellow in the eyes, you should go to a hepatologist to do liver tests and identify the specific problem, starting the treatment. See the 11 symptoms that can help confirm a problem in this organ.
4. Protruding eyes
Bulging and protruding eyes are usually a sign of Graves' disease, which causes an increase in thyroid function, also known as hyperthyroidism.
In these cases, other symptoms such as palpitations, excessive sweating, easy weight loss or constant nervousness, for example, are also common. Therefore, if this change occurs in the eyes, it is advisable to have a blood test to assess the amount of thyroid hormones. Learn about other signs that can help identify Graves' disease.
5. Eyes with gray ring
Some people may develop a gray ring around the cornea, where the color of the eye meets white. This usually happens due to triglycerides or high cholesterol, which may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke.
People with this condition should go to the general practitioner and have a blood test taken to assess cholesterol levels, especially if they are under 60. High cholesterol can usually be treated with dietary changes, but medications prescribed by your doctor may also be needed. Learn more about how this problem is treated:
6. Eye with white cloud
The presence of a white cloud in the eye is more common in the elderly due to the appearance of cataracts, which are caused by the thickening of the lens of the eye that happens naturally with aging. However, when they appear in young people, it can indicate other diseases such as decompensated diabetes or even a tumor.
Cataracts can usually be treated with surgery, so it is important to see an ophthalmologist. In other cases, it is important to consult a general practitioner to identify whether there is another cause and to start the appropriate treatment.
7. Drooping eyelids
When the eyelids are drooping in both eyes, they may indicate the presence of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, especially in women between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the weakness appears in the smaller muscles like the eyelids, but it can end up affecting the head, arms and legs.
Thus, people with this disease may also begin to show other symptoms such as keeping their heads hanging down, having difficulty climbing stairs or weakness in their arms. Although it has no cure, the treatment helps to improve the quality of life. Understand more about the disease as the treatment is done.
