Your Eyes Red Light Warning Signals

Eyelids

Tip 1: If one of your eyelids droops, you're seeing double, and/or your pupils are unequal in size, you may have a ballooning blood vessel (aneurysm) in your brain that could burst, or a brain tumor.

An eyelid that does not move normally, pupils that are unequal in size, and/or seeing double may indicate that the nerve controlling these functions is not transmitting impulses normally. Any abnormality, in the brain or surrounding structures, that puts pressure on this nerve can cause these signs. A blood vessel that is ballooning out (aneurysm) at a specific location could press on this nerve. These signs may be an early red light warning signal for emergency medical evaluation and brain surgery to contain the blood vessel before it bursts.

Tip 2: If your eyelids droop part of the time and you have double vision, or your jaw gets tired while chewing, you may have a serious neurological problem.

Do people ask. "Why don't you open your eyes all the way? You look like you're sleepy." Do your jaws get so tired at times when your eating that you cannot take another bite? If you have droopy eyelids, weary jaws, difficulty swallowing or general weakness, you may have a potentially serious nerve disorder called myasthenia gravis. With myasthenia gravis there is a blockage of a chemical necessary for sending messages through your nerves to certain muscles in your body. Only a weakened nerve signal gets to the muscle. Weakened muscles make it hard to chew and cause your eyelids to droop. Other muscles including breathing muscles may become weak. If this ailment is not treated, it could be fatal since you could stop breathing. Effective medications can control this disease. If you experience these red light warning signals, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Vision Abnormalities

Tip 3: When the view you see becomes narrowed, it may be an important symptom of a pituitary gland tumor, a brain tumor, a stroke, an injury to the retina of the eye, or advanced glaucoma.

When you look straight ahead, usually you can see objects on your right and left side. These are your peripheral visual fields. The loss of a portion of your peripheral fields is a red light signal. This loss causes your vision to be similar to that of a horse wearing blinders. A simple test to detect this abnormality is to put your right hand over your right eye and put your left hand behind your left ear. While looking straight ahead, move your left hand slowly so that it is reaching out in front of your face. You should be able to detect this movement out of the corner of your left eye even though you are looking straight ahead. Do the same while looking through your right eye. If neither eye picks up your normal peripheral vision, you may have a visual field defect. Causes of this syndrome include a stroke due to blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, an injury to the retina of the eye, glaucoma, bleeding in the brain, or a tumor in the area of the brain responsible for vision. A tumor of the pituitary gland, located on the underside of the brain, can also cause these symptoms. If the tumor gets large enough, it can press on the nerves from the eyes and cause the visual field loss. Also, the tumor can produce high levels of hormones that may cause a milky white discharge from the nipples and stop or alter menstrual periods. The growth can be controlled medically or surgically. If you experience a sudden narrowing of vision, you should go to an emergency room. In all cases, you need evaluation by an ophthalmologist.

Tip 4: If it seems as though a dark gray curtain or haze is going down over one eye or part of your vision and then back up, it can be a sign that you are about to have a stroke.

If it seems as though your vision is clouded by a descending gray curtain - or a blur, haze, mist, or fog - usually for about one to five minutes, it could mean several things. One of the blood vessels leading from your heart into your neck or some of those supplying your brain could be partially blocked. When this happens, the blood vessel to the nerve to the eye or the part of the brain responsible for vision is not getting enough blood. You need to be taken to an emergency room immediately. Emergency treatment may prevent a stroke. If your sight does not return and you see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) within ninety minutes, he or she may be able to treat you and save your vision.

Vision Loss

Tip 5: A sudden loss of vision in one eye or part of your vision that usually lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes may be the warning sign of major stroke.

People with this condition are at high risk of having a major stroke. If you suddenly lose part of your vision for a short period of time, this is a red light warning signal that you need urgent evaluation by your doctor. Sudden eyesight loss is a sign of a blocked blood vessel supplying a nerve to an eye or part of the brain responsible for sight. Emergency treatment to prevent a stroke is necessary. Often a blood thinner is given or surgery is instituted to clean out a blocked artery. If total vision does not return and you see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) within ninety minutes, he or she may be able to treat you and save your sight.

The information provided in this article and elsewhere on this website are for informational purposes only, and should NOT be considered a medical diagnosis or advice. When in doubt, please visit your local optometrist for a complete professional evaluation.