It’s said, “the eyes are the window to the soul,” revealing one’s emotional wellbeing and inner thoughts to those able to divine such veiled insight. While the condition of the soul may be deeply enigmatic, the health of the body in which it resides is at least somewhat less mysterious. In fact, the eyes can reveal a surprising amount of information about your overall health, and a comprehensive eye exam by your eye doctor can shed light on aspects of your health that might otherwise be overlooked.

A comprehensive eye exam can detect early warning signs of more than 270 systemic and chronic diseases including diabetes, migraines, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), high blood pressure, and even the flu. Slight but detectable changes in the eye often coincide with various systemic health conditions, and identifying changes early on can meant a great deal in treating these conditions before they become more advanced.

The Eye is a Window

In a very important way, the eye is truly a window to the body. Nowhere else can a physician directly look at and inspect arteries, veins, and nerves without making an incision or using more advanced methods. The ability to see into and behind the eye can reveal a surprising amount about your health.

After dilation, when the pupil of your eye is wider, your eye doctor can observe the small blood vessels at the back of your eye. If these blood vessels appear abnormal, or if there is slight bleeding, this could be an indication of high blood pressure.

If your eye doctor diagnoses the blood vessels in your eye leaking into your retina, this is an indication of diabetic retinopathy and suggests the patient has diabetes.

Inflammation in the eye can be a sign of autoimmune diseases like MS and rheumatoid arthritis, and cholesterol deposits on the cornea can mean high cholesterol in the body as a whole.

Routine Eye Care is Proactive Health Care

The list of symptom manifestations in the eye is extensive, each providing insight to health conditions potentially effecting the rest of your body.

Routine comprehensive eye exams are not just about identifying and addressing issues with your vision, which is likely why most people see their eye doctor in the first place, but about being proactive and intentional about your overall health.

Taking an active role in maintaining optimal health and vision includes both annual physical examinations from your Primary Health Provider, and routine eye exams from your eye doctor. If you’re experiencing vision or other health related symptoms, mention these to your eye doctor at the time of your visit to help them identify any indications of concern expressing itself in your eyes.