Optometrist perform more than 88 million eye exams each year. They ensure that your eyes are working properly and if there are any issues action is taken immediately.
It’s not uncommon for an optometrist to catch an issue that shows you’ve got serious health problems. We know you're wondering what types of issues could be caught when you have your annual eye exam?
We're going to detail some problems that can be caught when you attend your yearly eye examination.
DIABETES
Diabetes is the leading cause of loss of vision in Canada. Damage to the blood vessels of the retina can be examined by your optometrist during an eye exam. Optometrists can be one of the first to detect diabetes by looking at the back of your eye, or retina. Frequent changes in your prescription are one sign that could be caused by diabetes.
An eye examination is the easiest and non-invasive way to examine for diabetes. Optometrists can identify the signs of diabetic retinopathy, such as small aneurysms or hemorrhages on the blood vessels. If you have diabetes, regular eye exams are also important to help manage your condition and prevent complications. Schedule an appointment with our optometrists for early detection or to manage your condition.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Having a regular eye exam can play a vital role in the detection of hypertension, which can help you seek treatment much sooner. When you have high blood pressure, it changes the overall appearance of the vessels in the eye.
People with high blood pressure can experience problems with glaucoma or macular degeneration. It's best that once you find out you've got high blood pressure, you take the proper steps to reduce it, such as taking blood pressure medication and making healthier changes in your lifestyle.
BRAIN TUMOUR
One sign of a brain tumour is or swelling that causes there to be increased pressure to a person's optic nerve. During the exam, there will be several signs that the optometrist notices, such as a change in the size of your pupils.
If you've experienced headaches, unexplained double vision or have issues that affect only one of your eyes, it's best to schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
CANCER DETECTION
The last thing someone wants to hear during their eye exam is that they might have a form of cancer. Eye exams can detect several types of cancers, including:
• Melanoma
• Leukemia
Several cancers not only cause changes within the body, but they can also affect your eyes and eyesight. Certain cancers affect the way the inside of the eye looks, while others cause structural changes throughout the eye and the outside of the lid.
THYROID DISEASE
Studies indicate that 1 in 10 Canadians will experience some form of thyroid disease in their lifetime. You might be surprised to know that thyroid problems, much like the others on this list, can be caught via an eye exam.
When an optometrist examines your eyes they might notice protruding eyes caused by enlarged eye muscles as well as significant swelling. After the exam has been conducted your optometrist will discuss the details of what they observed and recommend further testing to get concrete results that can confirm the disease.
SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS: EYE EXAM DETECTION
We've provided a list of serious health problems that can be detected simply by scheduling an annual eye exam. Early detection is the best way to get a head start on the treatment that's needed to improve some of these conditions.
When was the last time you had your eyes examined?
It's time to contact Bellemore Optometry and Eyes on Tecumseh to have your eye exam performed. Our optometrists are here to offer vision and eyecare solutions and products for your health.