Primary care doctors, eye doctors and major health organizations agree with the importance of, and emphasize the need for, annual eye exams. The good news is that the number of people in the United States who go for eye exams is on the rise. However, some Americans still believe they have no reason to visit an eye doctor if they have no vision changes. Unfortunately, this causes more harm. Eye exams help detect other health problems that are not just limited to eye diseases.

Your Denver eye doctor can detect various health conditions that can go undetected. Read on to learn more.

Diabetes

Your eye doctor in Denver can diagnose diabetes by examining the tiny blood vessels in your eyes that supply your retina. A dilated eye examination or other comprehensive eye exams can help them see if there is any blood leakage in your retina from the tiny blood vessels. Early detection can help stabilize your blood sugar levels to avoid health complications and vision loss.

Cancer

Your eyelid can get eye cancer due to exposure to harmful UV rays. An eye exam can detect melanoma inside your eye through a microscope.

High Blood Pressure

Your eye doctor can detect abnormalities like unusual anatomy or bleeding at the back of your eye through an eye exam. A comprehensive or dilated eye exam can catch all these signs of high blood pressure.

High Cholesterol

 

Cholesterol is the waxy substance that naturally occurs and is in the blood. However, it can be dangerous when it is in excess and blocks blood flow through the arteries. As a result, it can cause stroke or heart disease.

An eye exam can help your optometrist detect high cholesterol levels in patients below 40 when they examine the cornea and see a yellow or blue ring. They can also detect increased levels of cholesterol throughout a patient’s body. They can do so when they examine the retina and find cholesterol deposits.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Many people have undetected sexual diseases. Most suffer and walk around with STDs without knowing they have a problem. Sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, herpes, and chlamydia, can affect different layers of your eyes. An eye exam can detect if you have an STD.

Lyme Disease

Most people live for many years with Lyme disease without knowing it. Regular visits to your optometrist or ophthalmologist can reveal that you have the disease in your body. It can cause you to experience inflammation in your optic nerves. You will also see floaters in your vision when you first get it.

Lupus

People with dry eyes may have an inflammatory condition called lupus. The autoimmune disease causes your body to strike healthy tissues. An eye examination will let your optometrist detect signs of lupus when they see the white part of your eyes has swellings.

Brain Tumor

A brain tumor can affect your brain activity even if it is not cancerous. Most people with brain tumors experience eye problems such as double vision, eye pupil changes, or loss of peripheral vision. Your optometrist can put pressure on your eyes to detect if you have a brain tumor.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can show ocular signs such as eye redness with severe pain. Most people who have this condition also experience dry eyes. Your eye doctor can also detect pain and inflammation in your sclera as rheumatoid arthritis.

For more about the importance of eye exams and other health problems they can help diagnose, call Optical Masters at our offices in Denver, Colorado at (720) 807-7300 or (720) 807-7600 to book an appointment today.