Many people put off getting their eyes checked until they notice changes in their vision. But regular eye care is an important way to keep up with your overall health. The eyes are the only place in the body where we can see blood vessels and nerves without surgery. The retina- the light sensitive inside lining of your eye- is clear tissue. When we look in during a dilated eye exam, we make sure that the blood vessels that feed the retina are healthy.  Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, can damage these important vessels. The way your eye vessels look is a good indication for what's going on in the rest of your body. Sometimes a comprehensive eye exam is the first time these conditions are noticed. 

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The optic nerve is the nerve that connects the brain to the eye. The eye is actually an extension of the brain. When we look at your optic nerve we are actually checking brain health. Changes in the appearance of the nerve can tell us if there is a need further investigation. Signs of conditions like growths, increased fluid, or demyelinating diseases like MS, are sometime first seen during an eye exam.

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Thankfully, most eye exams are uneventful and result in a new glasses and contact lens prescription. But the importance of regular comprehensive eye care can't be understated.

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