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6 Health Conditions Your Eye Exam Can Uncover

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It is essential to go to your eye doctor and get a check-up every year or so. Going to the eye doctor should be part of your regular healthcare routine. Your eye doctor will be able to monitor the overall health of your eyes. They will also be able to detect if you are suffering from other health conditions as well. Your eyes are the window to the soul and the window to your overall health.   

Diabetes  

Diabetes impacts so many parts of your body. It is not just about the food that you put into your body—it is about how that food impacts your body. If the blood vessels in your eyes are leaking either yellow fluid or blood, that is a sign that you have diabetic retinopathy, one of the many consequences of uncontrolled diabetes.   

Hypertension  

It is essential to keep your blood pressure under control. When your blood pressure gets high, the blood vessels in your eye tend to bend or tear. High blood pressure is detrimental to your long-term vision and overall health.   

High Cholesterol  

Your cholesterol is a type of fat that your body naturally makes, but you can also add cholesterol to your body by consuming different foods. If you have high cholesterol, you have more of this fatty substance than you need, which can be detrimental to your health. When you start to get high cholesterol, a yellow tinge or ring can develop around your cornea.   

Cancer  

There are lots of different types of cancer that can impact your body. Eye cancer can be detected by changes to the structure of your eye. Unusual eye structure is often a sign of eye cancer. An exam of your eyes can also be used to determine if you have skin cancer. Skin cancer can be detected on the eyelids.   

Tumors  

Tumors can be tricky to spot before they become rather large. If you have a tumor in your neck or an aneurism, your eyes may give a warning sign through droopy eyelids or an irregular-shaped pupil. If you see your eye doctor regularly, they will notice changes to your eyelids and pupil shape.   

Thyroid Disease  

Your thyroid controls how you use energy and process food. It is directly connected to your metabolism and heartbeat. There are a variety of thyroid diseases you can develop when this part of your body isn't working as it should. One sign of thyroid disease is protruding or bulging eyeballs, something your eye doctor can notice.   

Regular visits to the eye doctor are essential. Not only do regular visits allow your eye doctor to keep an eye on your overall vision and detect changes in time to intervene, but your optometrist can also detect other health issues that you are going to need to see your primary care physician for as well. Your health is interconnected, which is why you need to take care of all of it and make an appointment with your eye doctor. As you get older, you should start to see your eye doctor more frequently to monitor your vision and overall health.

For more information, contact an optometrist and ask about eye exams.  


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