Your vision is one of your body’s most important senses and problems with your eyesight are something you want examined by a professional as soon as possible. An Eye Exam in Omaha can tell you a great deal about your eye health and also other aspects of your overall well-being. You can learn about more than just how good your vision is. Here are some of the health concerns an eye examination can help detect.

Six Conditions An Eye Exam Can Detect

High Cholesterol

When you have high levels of cholesterol, this is shown in your eyes through a ring around your iris. This ring can be blue, white, or gray and can be a sign of aging. However, if you are under 60, it can be a sign of high cholesterol.

Diabetes

There are types of diabetic conditions that can impact your eyes and show in an examination. Diabetic retinopathy impacts the retinas in your eyes and causes specs of blood to appear in the back of the eye. This can cause blindness, so it is important to detect this early through regular eye exams as more noticeable symptoms only appear when the condition is advanced. In some cases, you may become aware of this ocular condition before you realize you even have diabetes.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can cause blood vessel damage in your eyes, which an eye exam can detect. This is a symptom you should not ignore as high blood pressure can lead to heart failure, heart attacks, and damage to your vision.

Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis impacts other parts of your body in addition to your joints. Dry eye syndrome is a common vision condition caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The severity can range from a mild annoyance to requiring treatment. Inflammatory arthritis can cause eye redness, pain, and sensitivity to light alongside more severe symptoms such as glaucoma.

Thyroid Disease / Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid problems are associated with an ailment of the autoimmune system called Graves’ Disease. This impacts your eyes by causing redness and itchiness. A more severe form of the ailment can lead to ocular swelling and bulging. Detection of associated symptoms will lead to more precise testing and care.

MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

As a nervous system disorder, MS can impact the optic nerve, leading to optic neuritis which causes swelling and blurred vision. Optic neuritis is found in 75% of people with MS and this ailment can be an early sign you are developing multiple sclerosis. This allows for early detection and proper medical diagnosis.

Final Thoughts

An eye exam can be a key part of judging your vision, health, and overall physical well-being. Regular eye exams can catch many other ailments in their early phases, often before you are aware anything is wrong or in need of attention. Regular checkups keep you informed on your health status and allow you to preemptively prepare for proper treatment if needed.