Aug. 28, 2023&mdash;When was the last time you had an eye exam? If you can't remember, it may be time to make an appointment. 

Eye exams are important for everybody, at every stage of life. Regular eye exams can help protect your vision and ensure that you're seeing the world as clearly as possible.

But did you know that eye exams can also find health issues that affect other parts of your body? 

In fact, during an eye exam, optometrists can find changes in the eye that show the beginnings of more than 270 diseases in the body, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=optometric">American Optometric Association</a>. Finding disease early can potentially make treatment easier and more effective.

Some common diseases a comprehensive eye exam can detect early include:
<ul>
 <li>Diabetes. </li>
 <li>High blood pressure. </li>
 <li>Cancer. </li>
 <li>Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. </li>
 <li>Sexually transmitted infections. </li>
</ul>

Think of regular eye exams as an extra layer of protection against conditions like these, not as a substitute for other recommended health screenings.

What happens during an eye exam?

During your eye exam, the doctor will use drops to make your pupils larger. This allows the doctor to see inside your eyes. The doctor will examine blood vessels, nerves and tissues. 

In addition, a comprehensive eye exam will test:
<ul>
 <li>Peripheral (side) vision. </li>
 <li>Color vision. </li>
 <li>Depth perception. </li>
 <li>Your pupils' response to light. </li>
 <li>Eye muscle movements. </li>
</ul>

Look into an eye exam

Learn more about eye exams, including recommendations for when to get them, in <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/Story.aspx?StoryID=41b6ab2e-54db-4998-acf3-6189144004aa">this helpful article</a>. 

Sources 
<ul>
 <li>AARP. "8 Health Problems that Can Be Detected Through an Eye Exam." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/eye-exam-health.html">https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/eye-exam-health.html</a>. </li>
 <li>American Academy of Ophthalmology. "20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/surprising-health-conditions-eye-exam-detects">https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/surprising-health-conditions-eye-exam-detects</a>. </li>
 <li>American Optometric Association. "See the Full Picture of Your Health with an Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/full-picture-of-eye-health">https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/full-picture-of-eye-health</a>. </li>
 <li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Keep an Eye on Your Vision Health."
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/keep-eye-on-vision-health.html">https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/keep-eye-on-vision-health.html</a>. </li>
</ul>

Why eye exams are important for your overall health

A comprehensive eye exam not only checks your vision, it also can find warning signs of more than 270 diseases. 