As they say, the eyes are the soul’s window. However, they are also your window to the outside world, which is why it’s critical to have frequent eye exams. In addition to identifying problems with your vision, an eye exam might identify other health concerns that need further examination. In particular, if an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan is included of your eye exam, it could assist identify some eye disorders early on.
The following five conditions could be discovered during an eye checkup.
Brain tumours
Certain tumor types can affect your eyes by raising the pressure on the brain. A brain tumor may be the source of enlarged optic nerves, which an optometrist can detect.
Skin cancer
As part of the examination, your optometrist will look for signs of skin cancer on the eyelids, around the eyes, or inside the eye.
Diabetes
If your optometrist notices a yellow fluid or bleeding in your retina, they may be able to identify diabetes before you are officially diagnosed. Optometrists can also identify early or mild diabetes alterations with the use of an OCT scan. Long-term vision loss and other severe problems can be prevented with early diabetes identification.
High blood pressure
An eye exam gives optometrists a non-invasive technique to observe how nerves and blood vessels function. One of the risk factors for glaucoma is high blood pressure, which can be indicated by abnormalities in the retina, such as hemorrhage or alterations in the blood vessels in the rear of the eye.
Heart disease
Your optometrist can also use an OCT scan to check for ocular stroke symptoms that might be a sign of heart disease. Eye strokes occur when a vein becomes clogged, causing blood to pool in the eye, or when cells die from lack of oxygen or blood.
Frequent eye exams are crucial for both preserving healthy eyesight and identifying possible health issues before they worsen. The eyes can provide important information about your general health, from thyroid problems to diabetes. Never undervalue the significance of an eye exam; it may be an essential part of keeping your health and wellbeing in check.
Learn more at: https://newscanada.com/en/5-general-health-problems-an-eye-exam-can-catch-139780
Reference: https://newscanada.com/
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