The American Association of Retired Persons acknowledges the value of eye health. A comprehensive eye exam can reveal many things about your eye health. It can also show many things about your general health as you age. Knowing what your eye health says about your general health can motivate you to see your doctor soon. 

Diseases That an Eye Exam Can Detect

Regular eye exams can tell your eye doctor how healthy your eyes are. Chronic diseases start gradually. They worsen as you grow older. Sometimes, signs and symptoms do not show unless the damage to your health is serious enough. Regular eye exams can help catch them early. Here are some of the diseases that your eye doctor may see through your eye exam:
 

• Clinical data show that heart disease can be detectable through eye checks. Clogged arteries indicate a problem with your circulation. Tiny plaque deposits in the eyes may come from a plaque buildup in your carotid artery. These plaque particles can reach your brain and cause a stroke. Your eye doctor can detect a possible heart problem even before your primary doctor does. 

• Studies reveal that high blood pressure can show itself when a tiny blood vessel in the white of your eye breaks. This rupture causes blood to leak out. Your eye doctor can also detect some swelling or bulging in the eye, which is another sign of high blood pressure. 

• Retinal imaging devices can detect damage from diabetes. Your eye doctor can spot the early stages of retinal damage from high blood sugar levels. You can then talk to your doctor about the necessary treatments for your condition. Early treatments can help prevent the early onset of vision loss. 

• Multiple sclerosis is also detectable through your retina and optic nerve. There is damage in your optic nerve if your eye doctor sees that it is pale. The damage may be optic neuritis or an inflamed optic nerve. Studies show that patients with this condition may present sudden vision loss in one or both eyes. Pain while moving your eye may also indicate the onset of this disease. 

• Hyperthyroidism is another condition that an eye exam can detect. Using an exophthalmometer, your eye doctor can measure your eye’s protrusion. Severe eye protrusion is often a sign of hyperthyroidism. 

• The onset of rheumatoid arthritis can be evident in dry eye symptoms or the inflammation of your sclera. 

• Eyelid cancer is also detectable through an eye exam. This skin covers your eyes and protects them from UV rays. Melanoma is common in the lower eyelid. On rare occasions, melanoma can also grow inside the eye. 

Early Detection Is Important

Your eye doctor will review your family and health histories. You need to tell your eye doctor about your medications, work-related issues, and symptoms. There will be tests to assess different aspects of your eye health, such as pupil constriction. These eye exams can determine both eye and general health issues. This is more than enough reason to include eye exams in your list of health checkups.
 

Regular eye checkups can reveal the early onset of different general health issues. At Wear Eyewear, we do our best to help our patients achieve their eye and general health goals. Feel free to visit our facilities in Chicago and Orland Park, Illinois, for an in-person consultation. Please call 312-626-0036 (Chicago) or 708-349-9327 (Orland Park) to schedule an appointment or ask about our comprehensive eye exam packages.