The “eye health check” is an important component of your annual comprehensive eye exam. Most are aware that an eye exam is about more than just your eyes. What do our optometrists look for? Here is a list of 10 diseases that are frequently seen or detected through an eye exam:
High Blood Pressure
The tiny blood vessels in the retina reveal a lot about our overall health. Those with uncontrolled high blood pressure may show changes in the shape of their retinal blood vessels and even microscopic hemorrhages or leakages.
Diabetes
A careful examination of the iris and retina will provide important information about one’s risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes. A loss of blood flow to parts of the eye may produce new blood vessels that may only be detected using specialized equipment.
Heart Disease and Stroke
Examining the blood vessels on the retina may reveal plaques liberated from within the heart, or a larger blood vessel. This may increase the risk for a blood clot within the eye or elsewhere in the body (when it happens in the brain it is referred to as a stroke).
High Cholesterol
The retina is an excellent opportunity to carefully examine the network of arteries and veins. A narrowing or hardening of the retinal blood vessels is an indicator for high cholesterol.
Cancer
Tumours may originate in the eye or may move (“metastasize”) from elsewhere in the body, such as the breast or lung. Additionally, the eyelid is one of the more common locations for skin cancers to form.
Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.)
This disease has a relatively high prevalence in Alberta. The body’s immune system attacks its own nerve cells, causing progressive loss of muscle function. One of the earliest indicators of possible M.S. is a sudden painful loss of vision due to optic nerve inflammation. During an eye exam your optic nerves will be evaluated for any health issues.
High Intra-cranial Pressure
Swelling of both optic nerves is an indicator of abnormally high pressure around the brain. Tumours, infections and injuries may cause this to happen.
Thyroid Disease
An over-active thyroid may cause Grave’s disease, which results in bulging of the eyes and other problems such as eye dryness.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This common condition causes inflammation of the joints. It also causes dry eye disease and sometimes inflammation of the sclera (white part of the eye). Dry eye disease due to Rheumatoid Arthritis is managed differently than other types of dry eye.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Normally a disease found in older adults, GCA results when the lining of the arteries in the temple area of the head become inflamed. It may cause headaches, scalp tenderness and optic nerve inflammation. GCA can be life-threatening if not managed immediately.
Book an eye exam, it’s a great investment to ensure your health and eyesight are protected.
