Your Eyes Reflect Your Health

Many people consider eye health secondary, believing that an ophthalmologist’s only job is to measure vision and prescribe glasses. This simplistic view prevents many from detecting over 20 serious diseases, whose first symptoms can often be identified in a routine eye exam.

If you think this is an exaggeration, keep reading to learn how a simple eye check-up can mean the difference between early prevention and facing a serious, advanced illness.

Diseases That Can Be Detected in an Eye Exam

• Aneurysm
  An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel wall, which can develop in the brain, aorta, or legs. If detected early, it can be managed with medication or surgery. About 15% of patients with a ruptured brain aneurysm die before reaching the hospital, but an eye exam can reveal early signs and allow timely intervention.
• Brain Tumor
  The optic nerve can reflect changes caused by a brain tumor. Detecting this anomaly early significantly improves prognosis, allowing treatment before the disease advances.
• Blood, Skin, or Tissue Cancer
  Leukemia can cause visible changes in the eyelids and inside the eye. An ophthalmologist can also detect signs of lymphoma and other cancers. Early detection is key to improving treatment success rates.
• Diabetes
  In many cases, diabetes first manifests in the eyes before a patient receives an official diagnosis. An estimated 900,000 people in the U.S. suffer from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to blindness if untreated.
• Multiple Sclerosis
  Inflammation of the optic nerve is often an early sign of multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease with no cure. However, early detection allows better management with medication.

Other conditions such as thyroid disorders, strokes, sickle cell anemia, HIV, gonorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension can also show signs in the eyes before affecting other organs.

The Best Prevention: Regular Check-Ups

The old saying is true: “The eyes are the mirror of the soul—and our health.” Healthy individuals should have an eye exam every two years. Those with existing visual conditions should have annual check-ups.

If you don’t yet have vision insurance, Univista Insurance can help you find the best coverage for your well-being and your family’s. Contact us today!