At Eye Consultants of Texas, we go farther to ensure the overall health of our patients across Dallas/Fort Worth. Here we are sharing information from a Reader’s Digest Magazine article (February 14, 2014) suggesting how your eyes can reveal certain medical issues at their earliest stages. Written by the physicians of the hit TV show, “The Doctors,” it lists five serious medical issues eye doctors can detect early. According to the article, these include:

High Blood Pressure – Several studies have found links between heart disease and narrowing of the small blood vessels in the retina, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Medicine. This can be especially true for people with traditional heart disease risk factors.

Diabetes – A small amount of bleeding in the retina can be one of the first clues a patient might have type 2 diabetes. This is a symptom of diabetic retinopathy. By detecting this early, managing diet and weight can cut the risk of blindness in half and help prevent further damage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis affects small joints in the hands and feet. About 25% of these patients have eye issues, the most common being dry eye. People with rheumatoid arthritis have high levels of inflammatory chemicals in their blood, which can sometimes migrate to the eyeball.

Multiple Sclerosis – The inflammation of the optic nerve is called “optic neuritis.” In the article, Michael Munson, president of the American Optometric Association, says this doesn’t automatically mean a patient has MS but can be a sign of the disease.

Cancer – Specific eye issues can reveal various types of cancers, one of the most important diseases to detect early. Certain types of bleeding in the retina, and changes in a patient’s field of vision are two examples.

At Eye Consultants of Texas, your overall health is of utmost importance. While vision problems don’t necessarily mean a serious medical issue, keeping your eye health in check is as important as your annual physical!