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By Melissa Tennen, HealthAtoZ writer
The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but they may also offer a peek at the heart - and the rest of you.
Just by examining your eyes, your eye doctor can tell whether you have hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes in some cases. Hypertension and diabetes are diseases that can start slowly and without symptoms, but can cause major damage throughout your body, including your eyes, if they are not controlled.
The blood vessels
Checking the blood vessels at the back of the eye as part of an exam offers the doctor a unique glimpse into the body's vast network of blood vessels. In fact, it is the only examination that allows a doctor to look directly at any network of blood vessels in the body without surgery.
The blood vessels in the eyes are especially delicate and vulnerable. A good thing about this unique glimpse is that damage in this area of the eye can be the first physical sign of diabetes or high blood pressure. It's a good thing, because if these problems are spotted early, it helps prevent further health problems, such as heart attacks.
Detecting disease
Let's talk first about diabetes. This is a disease in which the body cannot properly use its fuel supply of sugar, meaning sugar builds up in the blood. This excess sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the eyes.
Equally as dangerous, high blood pressure usually does not have symptoms, but, if uncontrolled over the years, can lead to heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
Detecting these problems early is not the only reason eye exams are important. Any kind of damage to this particular network of blood vessels can cause some loss of vision and, in the worst case, blindness.
Examination
To see this type of damage, the doctor looks at the back of your eye. The doctor is not only looking for diabetes and heart disease, but is also checking for eye diseases like cataracts (a clouding of the eye).
The doctor may use something called an ophthalmoscope. This is a magnifying device - usually used with a light - that the doctor shines into your eyes. The doctor will probably use special eyedrops to make your pupil (the black part of your eye) larger in order to better see the back of your eye.
When to have an eye exam
How often you should get an eye exam depends on your age, race, medical history, family history of eye disease and whether you have any problems with your eyes. Every child should receive a vision screening exam by age five.
For people with healthy eyes who are not experiencing any vision problems, the Healthy Vision 2010 initiative of the National Eye Institute recommends that you get a dilated eye exam at least every two years. This exam can detect changes in your retina or optic nerve. If you experience any degree of sudden vision loss, eye pain, or irritation, you should see a doctor right away, however.
You should see an eye doctor more often than every two years if:
- You have diabetes.
- You have a family history of eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and corneal diseases.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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