Your regular eye exam is coming up. You’ve booked an appointment with your local Victoria eye doctor, and are excited to get a new pair of glasses with an updated prescription. But, during your appointment, your optometrist notices some irregularities on your eyelid. He suggests you see an eye specialist. You, like much of the general public, probably think a routine eye exam is just about getting an updated prescription, or perhaps to check everything is okay with your eyes. However, an eye exam is more than just getting new specs. Read on to learn what an eye exam is really all about. It could save more than just your eyesight!
No One Likes Visiting the Doctor, But It’s Necessary
Going to the doctor is not the number one thing many of us would do, but it’s necessary. When it comes to your eyes a regular eye exam should never be skipped, because it could help diagnose other serious issues with your body. Especially, those that have little to no symptoms.
It happens almost every week, a patient will come in for either a routine eye exam or because they felt something just wasn’t right with their eyes. And it turns out that there is a bigger underlying issue. One such case was of a patient who came in because she was having pain in her eyes, and issues with her peripheral vision. In assessing her eyes, I noticed that her optic nerve appeared swollen. This condition is termed Optic Neuritis in the medical world. If a patient has such symptoms, one thing an eye doctor will need to rule out is multiple scelerosis (MS).
An episode of Optic Neuritis, is one of the first symptoms of the disease. Because a patient has these symptoms it does not necessarily mean they have MS, and so further testing needs to be conducted, like an MRI. The patient was sent to a neurologist, and it turned out she was diagnosed with MS. It really goes to show you coming in was absolutely the right thing to do. Now she can begin a treatment plan sooner than later.
A person’s eyes can tell you a lot about their overall health. Not missing your regular eye exam can really pay off. Because regular eye exams can allow your optometrist to keep track of any changes and or trends. Helping identifying potential issues earlier. Additionally, informing your eye doctor of any changes you have noticed with your eyes can help pinpoint potential problems as well.
What Your Eye Exam Can Help Diagnose
During your comprehensive eye exam, your eyes will be thoroughly assessed for vision, health, and other irregularities. Irregularities can point to underlying issues or diseases. Some of the things your regular eye exam can help diagnose include:
- Tumors
- Cancer
- Changes in hormones
- Thyroid Disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke
If your optometrist sees something that looks suspicious you will be advised to see the appropriate clinic, specialist, or GP for a further examination and diagnosis.
Don’t Wait To See Your Eye Doctor
Be aware. Don’t ignore symptoms. If you think something just isn’t right with your eye(s). The sooner you are diagnosed with an issue/disease the quicker a treatment plan can be implemented. Thus increasing your chances of a successful treatment.
If you have questions about your eyes, give us a call today or book online with Dr. Sharma. We love seeing healthy eyes!