Red Eyes: An Alarming Warning Sign for a SERIOUS Disease?

We’ve all dealt with red, irritated eyes at some point in our lives.

And with things like seasonal allergies, pet dander, and bacteria lurking all around us… there’s no shortage of ’causes’ for those red eyes.

But most folks don’t tend to worry too much about red eyes.

Maybe you pop a few soothing over-the-counter drops to deal with a minor issue (like allergies) …

Or see a doctor for more severe cases (like pink eye) …

But red eyes are literally more than meets the eye!

You see, it turns out that red eyes may not just be some minor ‘irritant’ …

It may be an early warning sign you have a serious, life-altering DISEASE!

According to new studies around the eyes and how impact your overall health, red eyes are often the first indicator you could have a serious, autoimmune disorder.

You see, aside from irritants like allergies, dander, or bacteria, often times redness of the eyes is triggered by inflammation caused by an autoimmune disease you may not know you have.

In fact, one of the most common eye diseases that is symbolic with red eyes is uveitis (or iritis), which can be an early indicator of spondyloarthropathy or ankylosing spondylitis – both of which are rheumatologic diseases that can cause serious, irreversible damage to your spine, and even your ribs when left untreated.

Now let me be clear:

Not all cases of red eyes are a sign of something serious. But, it’s important to know that red eyes aren’t always just triggered by outside irritants and that it could be caused by internal inflammation.

If you find yourself dealing with red eyes, you don’t need to panic.

The best course of action is to make an appointment with your eye doctor or ophthalmologist to determine the root cause of your red eyes. Simple tests will be able to determine if it’s something minor (like allergies or pink eye), or something more serious like internal inflammation.

If they suspect it’s being caused by something more serious, chances are they’ll recommend that you see a rheumatologist to identify the specific cause of the inflammation, and the best course of treatment.

The bottom line?

Be mindful of red eyes and don’t ignore them. Staying on top of the condition will go a long way for your overall health.

To not slacking on your vision,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Fleck, Klaus. “Red Eye Is Common, but Can Be Indication of Serious Disease.” 10/28/21. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/961770