Your eyes act as an early warning system to let you know when something is wrong and you need medical attention. Diabetes, for instance, can cause blurred vision when symptoms began to flare up. Dim or double vision may be an early sign you are suffering a stroke. Blood vessels are especially revealing.
The Optician uses an ophthalmoscope or Volk lens to examine the retina at the back of the eye, including the blood vessels and the front of the optic nerve. This important test can detect changes which can indicate diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
A regular, routine eye test can sometimes detect eye problems that indicate the presence of a brain tumour before any symptoms become obvious. An eye test is particularly good at identifying any swelling of the optic disc (a condition called papilloedema) and can also identify when there is pressure on the optic nerve.
Opticians are able to detect a build-up of pressure in the brain which can be an early sign of a brain tumour.
Here are five reasons why you may get referred to a specialist: You experience a sudden change in your eyes, such as partial or full loss of vision. You experience pain, inflammation or have an eye injury. You develop vision problems that glasses or contact lenses can't correct.
Abstract. Ocular changes are associated with a wide spectrum of liver diseases. The early identification of ocular changes may provide clues to the presence of liver disease and lead to early diagnosis, which is particularly important in liver disorders where effective treatments can prevent hepatic injury.
The eyes also reveal important information about your heart health. During the exam, the ophthalmologist will look for important clues about your blood pressure and cholesterol while examining your blood vessels, veins, arteries, and cornea.
During an eye exam, an optometrist may be able to measure the diameter of blood vessels to determine if a person is likely to have high blood pressure. If the optometrist takes a retinal photograph, signs of high blood pressure will be seen in red areas of haemorrhaging in the eyes.
Autoimmune Disorders: Eye doctors can often detect signs of autoimmune diseases. For example, inflamed eyes are a sign of Lupus or another autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Cancer: Different types of cancer can be detected during comprehensive eye exams.
If you are wondering: Can diabetes be diagnosed by an eye exam, the answer is a partial yes. Opticians can detect signs of vision loss or eye problems caused by diabetes. A blood test run by your GP will confirm the diabetes diagnosis and provide treatment for blood sugar control.
The most common eye diseases and vision loss conditions are macular degeneration, glaucoma, and detached retina.
Anemia. Similar to a vitamin deficiency, your optometrist can tell if your red blood cell count is low. Anemia can cause a lot of discomfort, including dizziness, a fast or unusual heartbeat, headache, pain, shortness of breath, weakness, cold hands or feet, and more.
Make an appointment with your local doctor of optometry today. The optic nerve in the eye is essentially an extension of the brain. Any neurological condition that affects nerve cells including Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis can be detected with an eye exam.
An eye exam can show increased pressure within the brain, including swelling of the optic nerve or bleeding into the retina of the eye. The following tests might be used to diagnose cerebral aneurysm and determine the cause of bleeding within the brain: CT scan of the head. Spinal tap.
They differ from both ophthalmologists and opticians. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who can perform surgery for eye conditions. Opticians are practitioners who help fit vision-correcting devices to help treat sight problems.
If in doubt, you should always opt to see an optician. This simple choice can help you prevent more severe injuries and preserve your eye health.
Optometrists can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and treat most eye diseases.
These may include: seizures, difficulty thinking or speaking, changes in personality, anxiety, depression, disorientation, fatigue, abnormal eye movements, numbness or tingling on one side of the body, weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance, vision changes, memory loss, nausea, generalized pain, trouble ...
Yes, your eye doctor can see eye floaters during an eye exam. While most of the time floaters are harmless, sometimes they can indicate a serious, sight-threatening eye problem – such as retinal detachment.