Instagram photos may offer more than just a visual reminder: Dr. Nisha Shah of Texas Eye and Cataract Surgery says they could hold the key to spotting serious health issues, especially when it comes to the eyes.
Dr. Shah emphasized that certain visual clues within a photograph may indicate potential health concerns that require medical attention.
For example, the common “red eye” phenomenon seen in photographs may be more than just an annoyance.
“When you take a photo with a flash, there's a reflection from the back of the eye, and we want that red reflection to be visible evenly in both eyes,” Dr Shah explained.
While this red reflex is generally a good sign, “I would be concerned if you had it in one eye and not the other,” she noted, adding that it could be a sign of retinoblastoma, a serious childhood tumor.
Dr. Shah also explained the importance of eye alignment in photography.
“When you bring your eyes together, you can see white dots in different places on the cornea, the front of the eye. The reason this is a problem is because children with one eye that turns inward or outward can develop amblyopia in that eye,” she explained, stressing the need for early detection to prevent the condition from worsening.
Additionally, Dr. Shah noted, the photos could reveal signs of thyroid eye disease.
“One of the first symptoms of thyroid eye disease is what's called eyelid retraction, where both the upper and lower eyelids appear to retract,” she says.
If you notice these changes in your photos, especially when compared to older images, it could be an early sign of illness.
Finally, drooping eyelids, or ptosis, which can be seen in photographs, can also be a worrying sign, especially in children, as it can indicate obstructed vision, she said.
In adults, sudden drooping eyelids may be related to a neurological or muscular problem, and Dr. Shah recommends seeing an ophthalmologist straight away if you experience this symptom.
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