The eye is one of the most complicated organs in the human body, but despite this, many people are somewhat blasé about the health of their eyes. They may make sure that they schedule a regular visit to their dentist but will often overlook such a regular encounter with their optician. To pardon the pun, this is quite shortsighted, especially as an eye examination can often reveal issues within the human body that may have been hidden up to that point. What are the additional advantages of scheduled eye testing with an eye doctor?
Window to the Body
A skilled optometrist will be able to learn a lot about your general health following a comprehensive eye examination. This is because there are a huge number of blood vessels within the eye, and their condition can often indicate the risk of serious issues elsewhere. Opticians are not just trained to assess the health of the eye itself but will also be on the lookout for any other problems at the same time.
Diabetes Risk
For example, it is possible to detect early warning signs associated with diabetes during an eye examination. This is a disease with epidemic proportions in Australia, and many people think it is linked to a poor diet. Its presence in the body can be revealed by a small leakage of blood from a vessel in the eye, linked to a very high ratio of glucose in the body.
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
If an individual is suffering from undisclosed high blood pressure, this can cause haemorrhaging within the eye. Damage to the blood vessels can also be caused by high levels of cholesterol, and this condition can often go undiagnosed.
Eye Diseases
Of course, the main reason for your visit to the optician will be to determine whether you have any risks to your eyesight. This can be caused by the onset of glaucoma or other known risks that are often linked to advancing age. Glaucoma can cause damage to nerve fibres within the eye, and it's important to catch this early in order to schedule treatment. If not, the condition can lead to a build-up of pressure, and this will invariably lead to vision loss.
Schedule Now
Experts recommend that you get an eye examination at least once per year and more frequently if you are at elevated risk. These checks will not only be able to detect any issues within the eye but may also reveal other problems in the rest of the body, which can be subsequently treated.
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