4 Eye Changes A Surgeon Would Never, Ever Ignore

“People don’t think of the eyes as a window to wider health,” a lead consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Blue Fin Vision, Mr Mfazo Hove, shared. 

Still, he cautioned, changes to your vision can be “the first clue that something serious is happening elsewhere in the body... Patients often assume it’s stress, screens or ageing.

“But the eye can reflect inflammation, abnormal blood vessels, or cancer-related changes long before someone feels unwell.”

That’s not to mention the fact that eyes themselves can get cancer, though that’s rare.

Here, HuffPost UK spoke to the surgeon about eye changes he’d never ignore (and why). 

Which eye changes should you never ignore? 

“There are certain changes to eyesight I would never ignore, because in rare cases the eyes can be affected by serious disease elsewhere in the body, including cancer,” Mr Hove told us. 

These include: 

1. Any new flashing lights or floaters,
2. loss of part of your vision,
3. a general drop in vision that feels persistently blurred without an obvious reason
4. new double vision affecting both eyes, which goes away when one eye is covered. 

“These symptoms can point to problems with the retina, optic nerve or the nerves that control eye movement, and occasionally eye changes can be the first clue that something more serious is happening elsewhere in the body,” the surgeon explained.

What should I do if I notice these changes? 

The NHS said, “If you are having problems with your eyes, visiting an optician is often the best place to start”. 

They recommend calling 999 or visiting A&E if your eye issue comes from an injury involving glass, a high-speed injury (e.g., injuries occurring while hammering or chiselling), a sharp object stabbing the eye or the area around it, or a chemical eye injury.

“GPs and A&E departments usually don’t have the specialist equipment needed to properly assess eye problems,” Mr Hove agreed. 

“What’s typically required is a detailed eye examination, including dilating the pupils to look at the back of the eye and, ideally, a scan called an OCT, which produces detailed images of the retina and optic nerve.

“A&E is mainly appropriate if there is sudden, severe vision loss, major eye injury or intense eye pain. The key message is not to ignore new changes and to make sure you’re assessed promptly by an eye specialist.”