Why Annual Eye Exams Are About More Than Just Your Vision

When you think about getting an eye exam, you probably think about checking to see if you need glasses or an updated prescription. While ensuring you have clear, sharp vision is a primary goal of an eye exam, it’s only part of the story. A comprehensive eye exam is a critical component of your overall healthcare. Your eyes are a unique window into your body’s health, and during a thorough exam, an optometrist can detect early signs of serious, vision-threatening eye diseases and even other systemic health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, often before you notice any symptoms yourself.

A Window into Your Overall Health

Your eyes are the only place in your body where a doctor can directly and non-invasively view your blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues in their natural state. The health of these tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye can be a direct reflection of the health of blood vessels throughout the rest of your body.

During a dilated eye exam, your optometrist can spot early signs of several major health conditions:

• Diabetes: Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. An optometrist may be able to see tiny hemorrhages or leaky blood vessels in your eye, sometimes even before you have been formally diagnosed with diabetes.
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Hypertension can cause distinct bends, kinks, or tears in the blood vessels of the retina.
• High Cholesterol: A yellow or blue ring around your cornea or the presence of plaques within the retinal blood vessels can be a sign of high cholesterol.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause inflammation in the eyes.
• Certain Cancers: Some cancers can metastasize to the structures of the eye.

As the American Optometric Association (AOA) explains, this connection between eye health and overall health is why a comprehensive eye exam is such an important part of your preventative healthcare routine.

Detecting Silent, Vision-Threatening Eye Diseases

Many of the most serious eye diseases develop slowly and painlessly, with no obvious symptoms in their early stages. An annual eye exam allows your optometrist to detect these conditions early, which is the absolute key to preventing irreversible vision loss.

• Glaucoma: Often called the “silent thief of sight,” glaucoma is a disease that damages your optic nerve, typically due to high pressure inside the eye. It usually affects your peripheral (side) vision first, so you may not notice the vision loss until the disease is very advanced. A simple “puff-of-air” test or other methods to measure your eye pressure during an exam can detect it early.
• Macular Degeneration: This is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. It affects your central, detailed vision, making it difficult to read or recognize faces. An optometrist can see the early signs of macular degeneration by looking at your retina.
• Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. An optometrist can monitor the progression of cataracts and help you decide when it’s time for surgery.

The National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the NIH, provides extensive information on these diseases and stresses the importance of early detection through regular exams.

Your Monrovia Experts for Comprehensive Eye Exams

An annual eye exam is a simple and painless step you can take to protect not just your vision, but your overall health. For residents of Monrovia, CA, and the surrounding communities, the experienced optometrists at Plaza Vision Optometry provide thorough, state-of-the-art eye exams. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.