Ocular Symptoms And Health Conditions

Routine eye examinations from an optometrist are a very important part of any health maintenance checkup. Thorough eye exams can help identify early signs of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypertension. Ocular symptoms can even help diagnose autoimmune diseases. Symptoms optometrists should examine can include:

• Dry eyes
• Red eyes
• Blurred vision
• Itchy eyes
• Pain in the eye
• Double vision

The symptoms of major health conditions can also be identified through eye examinations. These include:

• Brain tumors
• Crohn’s disease
• Certain cancers
• High cholesterol
• Hyperthyroid disease
• Liver disease

How Can Eye Exams Help?

When an optometrist exams your eyes they look for many different types of abnormalities. Some of these abnormalities can indicate health issues with your eyes, such as glaucoma. However, some irritations that may seem minor in your eyes can actually be symptoms of another disease or condition altogether. Some examples follow.

Eye Inflammation

Inflammation of the eye can be the result of something minor, such as coming in contact with an eye irritant or having persistent allergies. However, this inflammation can also be an early symptom of Lupus, or of other autoimmune diseases.

Injured Blood Vessels

Another issue that optometrists can spot is damaged blood vessels in the eye. The tiny blood vessels in your eye are often hard to spot yourself, but during an eye exam your optometrist will notice any abnormalities they may be exhibiting. For example, kinks or bends in these blood vessels could be a symptom of hypertension, or high blood pressure. If the blood vessels are leaking blood, this can be a sign of diabetes.

Yellowed Eyes

Yellowing around the corneas or elsewhere in the eye can be a sign of high cholesterol. Plaque can also build up in the blood vessels of your eye, which can be another sign of high cholesterol. These subtle signs will stand out to an optometrist.

Structure of the Eye

During an eye exam an optometrist can also note the structure of your eye. Abnormalities in your eye structure may not be immediately noticeable to you, which is why it is important to have a professional occasionally examine your eyes. Abnormalities in eye structure can be a sign of ocular melanoma. If your optometrist notices any abnormalities like this they will most likely refer you to a specialist so that the condition can be treated early.

Your Changing Eyes

Even though many times you will not be experiencing any abnormal symptoms in your eyes, it is still a good idea to visit your eye doctor regularly to make sure that your prescription should stay the same. Our eyesight can change gradually over time. Even if the change is small, it can mean that a stronger prescription would be beneficial for your eye health.

If you would like more information about eye health or would like to schedule an eye exam, contact Blue Moon Optical in San Marcos, TX.

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