Health conditions that can be detected during routine eye exams

Eye exams are noninvasive, have little to no discomfort, and are standard annual check-ups. Despite those facts, eye exams can be crucial in locating several diseases and conditions that you would not expect. While regular screenings can help locate these conditions, a regular trip to the eye doctor can aid in the early detection of several health risks.

The eyes contain blood vessels and nerve tissues that run directly to the brain. This exam can act as an initial look directly inside the body without invasive procedures.

High blood pressure

Unusual bends or kinks in the blood vessels in the back of the eye can signal high blood pressure, affecting about one in three adults. High blood pressure increases the risk in the onset or progression of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other diseases.

Heart disease

Using optical coherence tomography, a medical imaging tool that takes pictures of the inside of the eye, eye doctors can measure the thickness of the retina. This measuring can detect microscopic marks left behind on the eye that may indicate heart disease. Though healthy people may also have these marks, they are found more often in the eyes of those with heart disease.

Diabetes

Leaking blood cells in the back of the eye with either blood or yellow fluid is a sign of diabetic retinopathy. This disease can appear in the eye tissue before a person has even received a diabetes diagnosis and can be an early detector of the disease. Early detection can help avoid vision loss or further complications associated with the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Red eyes with deep, severe pain can be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis. This symptom can point to scleritis, a painful inflammation of the white part of the eye that requires medical therapy. People who have RA also commonly suffer from dry eyes.

Thyroid disease

When the thyroid glands produce too much or too little hormones, the eyes can develop Graves Disease, or protruding eyeballs and retracting eyelids. This can coincide with dry eye, blurry vision or loss of vision and is a telltale sign of hyperthyroidism.

Parkinson's Disease

While usually diagnosed through symptoms like tremors, muscle stiffness and impaired balance, eye exams have shown promise in some studies to aid in the early detection of Parkinson's Disease. Though still being researched, the appearance of shrinking blood vessels in the back of the eye may point to early detection of this diagnosis.

Cancer

Several cancers can be detected through symptoms of the eyes, such as blood, tissue and skin cancers. Skin cancers can affect the eyelids and the outer surfaces of the eye, while Leukemia and lymphoma can affect the eye's interior. Tumors in other areas of the body may also spread to ocular structures allowing for detection during an eye exam.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disorder that affects the nervous system. If the optic nerve is inflamed, it can be a dependable sign of this disease. This inflammation is often accompanied by severely blurred vision, painful eye movement, or double vision.

With several doctor appointments to make it to each year, it can be easy to overlook an eye exam, even though we shouldn't. Visiting Angels Toms River has caregivers throughout the greater Toms River-Brick area, and communities throughout Ocean County that can assist in transporting you or an aging loved one to your eye exam and reminders for the appointment. Our specially trained in-home caregivers can assist with medication management, meal preparation, and managing the symptoms of the diseases and conditions mentioned above. To learn more about the wide range of services available to you, reach out to us at (732) 240-1050 to schedule a free in-home consultation and meet with a caregiver.