Those who say the eyes are the windows to the soul might be onto something, sort of. While that’s still up for debate, the eyes actually do provide a glimpse of what’s going on inside the body. Blood vessels, nerves, and other parts of the eyes hold clues to health conditions a patient might be silently suffering from, and eye doctors are able to study those parts of the eyes during routine vision exams to screen for these
conditions, and many others.
Diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often so gradual that they go unnoticed. High blood sugar can damage the eye’s tiny blood vessels, resulting in diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease that can cause blurriness in vision, difficulty distinguishing colors, and even blindness. From 2010 to 2050, the number of diabetes retinopathy cases is expected to nearly double, from 7.69 million to 14.6 million people, according to the National Eye Institute. Patients with diabetes also face an increased risk of developing other eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma, and these conditions don’t always show symptoms right away. Fortunately, eye doctors can pick up on small changes, like tiny leaks occurring on blood vessels, through
comprehensive eye care that includes routine eye exams. Diagnosing the problem early can prevent serious eye damage and set the patient on a path toward healthier living.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, and like diabetes, the onset is often so gradual that patients don’t notice symptoms until damage has been done. Glaucoma is caused by increased eye pressure, which results in damage to the optic nerve and causes loss of vision. During an exam, the eye doctor will check that eye pressure is within the normal level and test the patient’s visual field and visual acuity. Regular eye exams are important in tracking things like changes to eye pressure levels over time.
Glaucoma can be prevented but not cured. However, it can be controlled using prescription eye drops and medication to lower eye pressure, as well as laser therapy and eye surgery.
Macular Degeneration
According to the National Eye Institute, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S. Similar to diabetes and glaucoma, patients suffering from macular degeneration often fail to notice symptoms for several years, but it can be detected through eye exams. Eye doctors study the macula—the part of the retina that ensures clear, sharp vision—using a number of tests, such as autofluorescent photos of the retina and dilated eye exams. There’s no cure for macular degeneration, but it can be managed if detected early.
While the eyes may not be the windows to the soul, they are the windows to good health. Even if you have great vision, it’s important to schedule routine eye exams to
preserve eyesight and detect conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed until they’ve progressively worsened. The
eye doctors at Coastal Carolina Eye Clinic provide eye exams to test vision and evaluate overall health, and we are currently accepting new patients. Call us today at (910) 763-7316 or fill out our
contact form to schedule your eye exam!
