Did you know an eye exam can inform your health care professionals about the health of the rest of the body?

Many health conditions are revealed in the layers of the eye especially the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue in the back of the eye responsible for processing vision. This layer is very active and has a rich blood supply. It is a special place in the body to evaluate how the cardiovascular system is functioning and assess stroke risks. In many ways, a dilated eye exam can act as a window into the one’s health. Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer can be evidenced and graded in a routine eye exam.

Manifestations of systemic disease can appear in and around the orbit of the eye and eyelids. These are tissues that can be susceptible to skin cancers. Early symptoms of diseases like high cholesterol and thyroid dysfunction can be disclosed of the outer parts of the eye.

The eyes can also be a place where the immune system can become confused or overactive. Conditions like autoimmune dysfunction often appear in the eyes for this reason. The symptoms can be confused for pink eye or dry eye but often return or become chronic.

Lastly, headaches, new or chronic, can be rooted in the visual system. Sometimes, looking into the eyes can rule out many of the worst-case scenarios when we are trying to find the cause of headaches. 

We have doctors and staff in Eureka at Jaroujiji five days a week and in Crescent City at Taa-‘at-dvn two days a week. We will soon be back at Potawot after the remodel. Like having your teeth cleaned or doing an annual physical, think about scheduling an eye exam too! We can be reached at (707) 296-2500 for scheduling.