They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. For your health, they are also a powerful window into your overall wellbeing.
Many people are surprised to learn that a comprehensive eye exam can detect over 20 general health conditions, often before other symptoms appear. That is because the eyes contain delicate structures, like blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, that reflect what is happening elsewhere in the body.
Here are seven serious health issues your optometrist may detect during a routine eye exam.
1. Diabetes
The tiny blood vessels that supply your retina can reveal early signs of diabetes, sometimes before you have even been diagnosed.
During a dilated eye exam, your optometrist may spot leaking blood vessels, a hallmark of diabetic retinopathy. Early detection can help you manage blood sugar levels, preserve your vision, and prevent serious complications.
In 2017, optometrists detected diabetic retinopathy in over 400,000 patients who did not yet know they had diabetes.
2. High Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure can cause visible changes in the blood vessels at the back of the eye. These changes may include leaks, narrowing, or twisting of the vessels, signs that are often invisible elsewhere in the body.
Your optometrist may also detect swelling of the optic nerve, which can indicate more severe or chronic hypertension.
Controlling blood pressure helps protect not only your eyes but also your heart, brain, and kidneys.
3. Thyroid Disease
A common sign of hyperthyroidism, particularly Graves’ disease, is bulging eyes or a retracted eyelid appearance. Optometrists can spot these changes, along with symptoms such as:
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Blurry or double vision
- Vision loss due to pressure on the optic nerve
These are early clues that the thyroid gland may be overactive, affecting tissues around the eye.
4. Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you present with severe eye redness and pain, your optometrist may suspect an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
One associated condition is scleritis, a painful inflammation of the white part of the eye. RA patients often experience:
- Chronic dry eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Eye pain that may worsen at night or with movement
RA tends to affect adults between ages 40 and 70, and eye symptoms may be among the first noticeable signs.
5. Brain Tumours
Increased pressure inside the skull due to a brain tumour can cause optic disc swelling (papilloedema), which your optometrist may see during a retinal exam.
Other signs include:
- Changes in pupil size, especially one-sided
- Peripheral vision loss
- Double vision
Eye changes may be one of the earliest non-invasive signs that a neurological condition needs further investigation.
6. High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is often called a silent risk, but sometimes it leaves visual clues. An optometrist might detect:
- A blue or yellow ring around the cornea, more notable in people under 40
- Cholesterol deposits in the retina’s blood vessels
These signs can point to elevated cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
7. Cancer
Several types of cancer can be detected during an eye exam:
- Skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma may appear on the eyelids or conjunctiva
- Lymphoma or leukaemia can cause interior eye changes
- Breast and other cancers may metastasise to the eye, affecting its structures and vision
While rare, early detection through an eye exam can lead to faster diagnosis and treatment.
The Eyes Don’t Lie
An annual comprehensive eye exam does more than check your vision, it can reveal the first signs of serious health conditions, many of which are most treatable when caught early.
Even if you have no symptoms, routine eye exams help monitor:
- Subtle changes to blood vessels and nerves
- Unusual pressure or inflammation
- Systemic conditions before other tests can detect them
Book Your Eye Exam Today
If it has been a while since your last eye exam, or you are curious about your overall health, now is the time to schedule an appointment.
Contact Optometry@Cooroy today to book your comprehensive eye test. Your eyes could tell you more than you think.
