Most Common Diseases an Eye Exam Can Detect
An eye exam to monitor the health of your eyes is what a physical is for your overall health. In fact an eye exam can also provide an early detection for some overall health issues including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Detection of any eye issues in it’s early stages is the number one key for the proper treatment and recovery.
What type ailments can a comprehensive eye exam detect?
The primary that are detected in an eye exam include:
1. Glaucoma
Glaucoma generally refers to a group of disorders that damage the optic nerve which provides information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma has been nicknamed the “sneak thief of sight” because of it’s gradual occurrence to loss of sight over time and many times not diagnosed until it is in it’s advanced stages. Symptoms of Glaucoma include: cloudiness, red eye, sensitivity to light, pupil does not react to light and swelling of the eye. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Screening for Glaucoma is usually performed during a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Early detection is key for treatment and recovery.
2. AMD (Age related Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a medical condition that usually occurs in older adults that makes it difficult to see fine details. Symptoms include: bluriness, trouble discerning colors, slow recovery of visual function after exposure to bright light and distorted vision. If you are over age 60 and you’ve had some changes to your vision your eye doctor can perform an examination to test for macular degeneration. The eye doctor will dilate your pupils and with a special magnifying lens look for yellow deposits called drusen on your retina or optic nerve.
3. Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is a diabetes related eye disease and can lead to blindness if not treated properly and it’s early stages. Symptoms of this disease include: blurry vision, seeing flashes or floaters, occasional double vision and problems with night vision. Diabetic Retinopathy has become the leading cause of new cases of blindness for age groups between 24-70. Through an eye exam the eye doctor will be able to look directly at the blood vessels inside the eye and detect signs and symptoms of retinopathy.
4. Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding that forms in the lens of the eye. Symptoms include: cloudiness, loss of color intensity, night vision, seeing halos and double vision. Generally adults advancing in age develop cataracts and it may run within families. An eye doctor will be able to diagnose cataracts using a Slit Lamp during a standard eye examination. Depending on the severity of the cataracts surgery maybe required to remove it.
In our next article we will walk through what to expect and the instruments used in a comprehensive eye exam.
Dr. Tarryn Uyen Ngo is a Sunnyvale Optometrist and business owner of North Valley Optometry serving San Jose, Milpitas, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara (CA).
Visit our San Jose Vision Care Articles section for more articles on eye and vision care.
