Regular Eye Examinations Good For Overall Health

Having your eyes examined on a regular basis is essential for maintaining their health and identifying vision problems early. But many people probably don’t know that regular visits to the eye care doctor can also deliver other health benefits, such as the early detection of many conditions. Among them are diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.

Our eyes are a truly unique tool for gauging our overall health. As vision care company VSP points out, they are the only place where doctors can look at blood vessels, arteries, and cranial nerves without resorting to surgery. A comprehensive exam will involve eye drops, which help doctors view the back of the eyes to look for signs of damage or disease.

The only way to be sure that your vision is really fine and your eyes are healthy is through regular visits to your eye care professional. They will help identify a number of conditions that present a problem or pose a risk to your sight. When examining a patient, eye doctors are on the lookout for several common problems. One of them is diabetic eye disease, which is the most common cause of vision loss. It occurs as a result of diabetes damaging the tiny blood vessels located in the retina. Another condition an exam can identify early is dry eye, which happens when tears are not properly produced. Dry eye can be a problem for people spending long periods of time reading or using a computer. For older people (50 or above), regular eye exams will make it possible to detect age-related macular degeneration (AMD).