Connection with Your Eyes and Overall Health

It’s important to remember that the eyes are connected to many other systems in the human body. That makes routine eye exams an important part of preventative healthcare—regardless of your age or physical health.

1.High Blood Pressure – Do your regular eye examinations, your doctor might find symptoms of high blood pressure in your retina. The elevated pressure causes tiny blood vessels in the retina to kink and twist, which can be detected by your ophthalmologist when he/she takes a gander in your eyes. Detection of these symptoms is important because it might save you from experiencing a debilitating or even fatal stroke. If that wasn’t scary enough, this condition can also lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision, and complete loss of vision. If you suffer any of these conditions, seek immediate medical attention. High blood pressure is treatable through a healthy diet and, if needed, some medications, so be sure to keep tabs on your heart health and have a yearly physical.

2.Diabetic Retinopathy – Another common condition that makes its presence known in your eyes is diabetes. Your ophthalmologist might find tiny hemorrhages in the retina and yellowish deposits of blood fats, known as diabetic retinopathy by doctors, during an eye examination. “Diabetic retinopahy affects blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue called the retina that lines the back of the eye,” the National Eye Institute notes on its website. “It is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness among working-age adults.”

3.Diabetes – For those who might not know they have diabetes, a routine eye exam could be the first indication that they have the disease. For those who know they suffer from diabetes, taking care of your eye health is an essential aspect of your treatment because early detection and treatment can reduce the risk of blindness by 95 percent.

4.Lung and Breast Cancer – Most people think of mammograms when it comes to making a diagnosis of breast cancer. But sometimes, the first indication that you have the disease might come through your routine eye examination or through some changes in your vision.

Surprisingly, malignant tumors from other parts of the body, including the lung and breast, can spread into and around the eyes. “These tumors may never be discovered unless they affect vision, are visible to the patient, or push the eye forward,” notes eyecancer.com. While most patients with the condition known as choroidal mestastasis have no symptoms, they may experience changes to their eyes and vision depending on the location of the tumor. For example, if the tumor is within the eye, you may experience flashing lights, floating spots, or other distortion of your vision. And be aware that you may be at greater risk for choroidal mestastasis if you have a history of cancer, so be sure to include regular eye examinations to protect your eyesight.

Some of the diseases that can manifest in your eyes are frightening, there’s no doubt about it. But the lesson from this look at your eyes and what they can tell you about your health is the importance of regular eye examinations. Early detection of many of these conditions can arm you with the tools you need to get a handle on your health. And remember that early detection may even mean the difference between life and death.