Eyesight: The colours in your eyes that could signal hypertension and high cholesterol

msn.com:

eyes that could be cause for alarm. Red spots, blue rings around the iris and a yellow tinge might be indicative of something else.

Speaking with Express. co. uk, clinical services director at Specsavers - Giles Edmonds - explained more. Red spots - Mr Edmonds said: "Red spots on the front of your eyes can often be caused by broken blood vessels from something as simple as a cough or a sneeze. "While in most cases they are nothing to worry about, if your eyes remain red for some time it is important to get them looked at as it could be an indication of high blood pressure. "High blood pressure can mean you have a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke and it can also lead to complications with your vision. "During an eye test,your optometrist might also spot signs ofhigh blood pressure, through observing the eye's blood vessels to see if they have narrowed or started leaking. READ MORE: Eyesight: Drink enjoyed by billions could be linked to 'leading' cause of blindness"Patients with high blood pressure can develop a condition called hypertensive retinopathy which sees the walls of blood vessels thicken, narrow and restrict blood flow. "In some cases the retina also becomes swollen and the blood vessels can leak. "Blue ring - "Some people may notice a blue-tinted ring appear around their iris, particularly as they age," he added. "This is caused by cholesterol deposits in the eye. "They are more common in those aged 60 and above and aren't usually something to worry about. "However, if these develop in the under 40s, there may be a greater risk of developing heart disease.