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As far as regular health checks go, an eye exam is one of the simplest – and it can usually be bulk billed, making it one of the most affordable as well. Yet a recent review showed that since the Covid 19 pandemic began, there has been a huge decrease in the number of eye tests being carried out here in Australia.
As far as regular health checks go, an eye exam is one of the simplest – and it can usually be bulk billed, making it one of the most affordable as well. Yet a recent review showed that since the Covid 19 pandemic began, there has been a huge decrease in the number of eye tests being carried out here in Australia.
Unfortunately, this means that many of us are walking around with undiagnosed eye conditions - or even at risk of losing our sight altogether.
With around 90% of vision impairment issues being treatable if detected early, it makes no sense to put off this simple test! An
eye examination by an optometrist takes less than an hour, and your optometrist can help you achieve better vision today – as well as prevent the loss of your sight in the future due to cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
However what many Australians don't realise is that an eye test can also be instrumental in the diagnosis of several other serious, even life-threatening, conditions:
- High Blood Pressure - Elevated blood pressure (or hypertension) is often referred to as the ‘silent killer' as many sufferers don't experience symptoms. However, it can cause changes to the blood vessels in the back of the eye – something which an optometrist should pick up during a routine eye examination.
- Heart Disease - The health of your eyes is directly connected to the health of your heart. Your optometrist may notice small plaque deposits, which have come from the main artery that supplies blood to your eyes – and if these deposits reach the brain, then that's when they can cause a stroke.
- High Cholesterol - A white ring around the cornea of the eye can be an indicator of high cholesterol, which can also be a precursor to stroke or heart attack.
- Diabetes - Optometrists play a large role in diagnosing patients with diabetes. Many patients have been alerted to the fact that they have diabetes after having their eye examination. The tiny blood vessels that supply the retina will leak blood, a sign that their vision is being compromised by diabetes.
- Melanoma – Believe it or not, moles can grow pretty much anywhere on the human body – even places you can't see. One of these is on the retina at the back of your eye. Your optometrist will be able to see and monitor these moles for irregularities which could indicate the presence of melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers.
A routine eye examination may also help to provide an early diagnosis of numerous other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid issues and brain tumours.
If you've been putting off your next eye examination, consider this your wake-up call and make that appointment today!
