Our Eye Exams In Concord, ON Can Spot Systemic Health Problems

Did you know that a comprehensive eye exam can uncover signs of a dangerous health condition?

In addition to inspecting your visual system, our Concord, Ontario, eye doctors will be able to view your overall health during your regular eye exam, using cutting-edge eye care technology. Your retina reflects light from the outside, and your eyes can reflect illness in the inner body. Essentially, your eyes provide a window to see the big picture of your body.

You may be totally unaware that you have a life-threatening health condition, until you have a thorough, dilated eye exam. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a patient to leave our Concord eye care clinic with a referral to their primary physician or medical specialist.

How Do Eye Exams See Systemic Health Conditions?

The eye is the only part of the body that enables your doctor to examine nerves, blood vessels and connecting tissue - without surgery. The same microscopic tissue that composes your major organs is also found in your eyes, which are an essential component of your nervous system. Therefore, abnormalities in your eye may point to similar changes in other parts of the body.

Which Systemic Diseases Can Show Up in Eyes?

Hypertension

Ocular blood vessels may tear or develop bends, which can indicate high blood pressure.

Diabetes

Diabetes can have a strong impact on eyes, particularly on the small capillaries of the retina. These delicate blood vessels may leak a yellowish fluid or blood. If our optometrist detects these symptoms during your eye exam, diabetic retinopathy may be to blame.

High Cholesterol

Elevated cholesterol levels can cause a yellowish cornea or a yellow ring around the cornea. Retinal tissue may also exhibit plaques that accumulate from too much cholesterol.

Thyroid Disease

Bulging eyes or eyeballs that protrude are both classic signs of a thyroid condition, officially known as Graves Disease. Our eye doctors will recommend testing if we notice these symptoms during a routine eye exam in our Concord, ON, office.

Autoimmune Disorders

Inflammation of the eyes and/or optic nerve can be a red flag for specific autoimmune disorders, such as Lupus or Multiple Sclerosis. We will refer you to a physician to investigate and confirm diagnosis.

Cancer

Abnormalities in your ocular structure may indicate cancer, such as ocular melanoma that causes pigmentation in the eye. Skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma on the eyelid, is another disease that can be detected during an eye exam. We will refer you to a specialist.

Tumors

Irregularly shaped pupils or a droopy eyelid may point to dangerous conditions, such as an aneurism or a neck tumor.

In many cases, regular eye exams enable the early detection of a potentially dangerous systemic health condition. In addition to preserving your quality vision and optimal eye health, there are many more reasons to schedule an eye exam in our Concord, Ontario, eye care clinic today!