Optimal eye health isn’t something that just happens, but is an aspect of health that everyone should consider. In fact, the eyes can give doctors clues to certain health conditions. Opthamologists are trained to identify health issues through a normal eye exam, which makes regular visits vitally important, even for people with normal vision.
Diabetes is one serious health condition that an eye exam can diagnose. They eyes tend to have blood or yellowish material in the vessels with the presence of the disease. However, it isn’t always a symptom that people pick up on or even notice. In fact, many undiagnosed cases of diabetes have been discovered at a routine eye exam.
When an eye doctor uses his high powered microscope to investigate the eye, he can see changes or abnormalities in the blood vessels. Not only can the vessels clue a doctor into the possibility of diabetes, but it can also indicate the presence of heart disease. When heart disease is the problem, the blood vessels in the eye may look strange or different, which allows a visit to a cardiologist for an accurate diagnosis.
Inflammation in the eye area can be a symptom of lupus and other autoimmune conditions. Strange growths in the eye might indicate certain kinds of cancers. Color changes in the eye can sometimes be a sign of high cholesterol levels.
In many cases, people learn about their health problems from an eye exam. By making sure that a regular visit with an eye doctor is set up, people can take one more positive step toward a healthy lifestyle and protect their bodies from a wide range of issues that compromise health, keep good track of their eye health and in some cases prevent death. Anytime a sign of a disease is picked up during an eye exam, a visit to a medical doctor is recommended.