Your Eyes as the Window to Your Soul and Your Health
When you think of an eye exam, you probably think it’s only for detecting vision issues, but did you know that a comprehensive eye exam can also reveal signs of underlying health conditions? At Visions Optometry, we go beyond just checking your eyesight—our thorough eye exams can uncover physiological health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, and even high cholesterol.
Surprising Health Conditions Your Eyes Can Reveal
Your eyes provide important clues about your overall health, making regular comprehensive eye exams essential for more than just vision care. Here is how an eye exam can help detect underlying health conditions.
1. Detecting Diabetes
One of the most common health conditions detected through an eye exam is diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in your retina, leading to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Before you notice the physical symptoms, your eyes will reveal telltale signs such as swelling or bleeding in the retina, allowing you to seek medical care before the disease progresses. During an eye exam our team will carefully check for these signs during your exam, helping protect both your vision and overall health.
2. Uncovering Hypertension
High blood pressure, or hypertension is another condition that can develop without notice in the initial stages, but it will affect the blood vessels in your eyes. During an eye exam, we can detect changes in these vessels that may indicate hypertension and prompt you to seek further help before the condition worsens leading to a stroke or heart disease.
3. Identifying High Cholesterol
Did you know that high cholesterol can sometimes be detected during an eye exam? Cholesterol deposits often form in the blood vessels in the eye appearing as yellowish plaque or deposits. These signs can indicate an increased risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. By detecting these deposits early, we can recommend further testing and lifestyle changes to improve your overall health.
Protect Your Eye and Physical Health with Visions Optometry
Your eyes are not only the window to your soul but also a window into your overall health. Comprehensive eye exams at Visions Optometry can detect early signs of serious health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Request your appointment to ensure both your vision and your health are in top shape.