YES! To your eye doctor, your eyes are windows to your overall health. Many illnesses and diseases show their earliest signs in the eye. Every year, your eye doctor will examine your eyes for signs of many conditions including:
| Hypertension | Hypertension may be indicated by the appearance of irregular blood vessels on the retina. |
| Diabetes | Diabetes may present small areas of bleeding in the retina, and can cause permanent vision loss. |
| Headaches | Headaches may arise or be worsened by vision problems such as eye strain. |
| High Cholesterol | High cholesterol may be evident by the condition of the veins and arteries in the eyes. |
| Glaucoma | Glaucoma occurs when the eye fails to regulate its own internal pressure. Early detection is crucial to prevent loss of sight. |
| Cataracts | Cataracts occur when the internal lens becomes cloudy. It must be removed and replaced with a tiny, synthetic lens. |
The Optomap Retinal Exam as an integral part of your eye exam.
Many eye problems can develop without warning and progress with no symptoms. Early on, you might not notice any change in your vision. However, diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, as well as other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can be detected with a thorough exam of the retina. The retina is the part of your eye that catches the image of what you are looking at, similar to the film in a camera.
An Optomap Retinal Exam provides:
- A scan to confirm a healthy eye or detect the presence of disease.
- An overview or map of the retina, giving your eye doctor a more detailed view than he can achieve by other means.
- The opportunity for you to view and discuss the Optomap images of your eye with your doctor at the time of your exam.
- A permanent record for your medical file, enabling your optometrist to make important comparisons if potential problems show themselves at a future examination.