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In poetry the eyes may be the windows to the soul, but they also provide a window to our general physical health. Because of their delicate structures, the eyes can reveal signs of health conditions not yet detectable by any other tests, and often before other symptoms become evident. During a comprehensive dilated eye examination, the optometrist has a clear view of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue, which is not possible anywhere else in the body.
Diabetes
Sometimes before other symptoms have resulted in a formal diagnosis of diabetes, an optometrist can pick up tell-tale signs on the retina and in the blood vessels. Although typically they don't interfere with vision, the appearance of cotton wool spots, fluffy white spots on the retina can be an indication of diabetic disease. Diabetes targets the tiny blood vessels that supply the retina. Optometrists can detect microaneurysms, as well as dilated and swollen blood vessels. In the later stages of diabetic retinopathy, new blood vessels start to grow on the retina, but they are weak, causing blood to leak and leading to retinal damage and vision loss. With early detection, blood sugar levels can be stabilised, and serious complications of diabetes can be prevented.
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Cardiovascular disease
Because the health of the eyes is connected to the health of the heart, eye examinations can reveal a number of cardiovascular conditions. Decreased blood flow to the retina sometimes leaves visible damage which may be an indication of a problem with blood flow elsewhere in the body. Clotting disorders and bleeding disorders may cause bleeding in and around the eye and on the retina which can threaten vision.
High blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure leads to specific changes to the blood vessels in the eyes. Unusual or abnormal bends or kinks in the blood vessels or bleeding in the back of the eye can signal high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, and other chronic health conditions. Getting blood pressure under control can help to reduce these risks.
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High cholesterol
A yellow or blue ring around the cornea and plaque deposits in the blood vessels of the retina may be a sign of high cholesterol throughout the body. High levels of cholesterol block blood vessels and restrict adequate blood flow and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the whole body, including the eyes.
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Rheumatoid arthritis
This chronic inflammatory condition, which affects the joints, can target the eyes as well. The most common ocular symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is dry eye. Inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye, typically causes severe pain and red eyes.
Thyroid disease
Protruding or bulging eyeballs and retracting eyelids are signs of an overactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism, which is most commonly caused by Grave's Disease, a condition which affects the tissues and muscles around the eyes. Symptoms may include blurry vision, dry eyes or vision loss.
Multiple sclerosis
One of the places most susceptible to multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system, is the optic nerve which can be observed by an optometrist during a dilated eye examination. Often, inflammation of the optic nerve goes hand-in-hand with severely blurred vision, painful eye movement or double vision. Early detection is important, allowing for prompt treatment and symptom management.
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With a number of health risks and chronic health conditions showing early signs in the eyes before other symptoms become evident, it is important to schedule regular eye examinations with your optometrist, who will refer you for further investigation if necessary. Early diagnosis leads to early management of disease and is often the key to a better long-term prognosis, prevention of severe complications and a better quality of life.
Eye examinations are not just about vision; they are about our overall health!
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