Connecting the Dots between Eye Health and Overall Health
Our eyes can tell a lot about us. It is often possible to understand what someone is thinking or feeling by looking into their eyes. But did you know that your eye doctor can understand a lot about what might be going on with your overall health just by examining your eyes? Here are a few things you should know about connecting the dots between your overall health and its impact in your eye health and vice versa.
Some Health Conditions Increase Your Risk of Vision Problems
According to the CDC, more than half of adults 65 years old and older who are blind, and 41.7% of those with impaired vision say that their overall health is fair or poor. Meanwhile, only 21.5% of older adults without vision problems have fair to poor health.
Certain health conditions increase your risk of developing eye conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, in addition to age-related eye issues. If you have any of these health issues, you could be at a higher risk of developing the following conditions that can cause vision loss or even blindness:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration
Taking Control of Your Eye Health
To protect your eye health, it is vital to understand the connection between it and your overall health. If you are aware that you have health issues that could affect your eyes, make sure that you discuss them with your eye doctor. Be sure to report any changes in your vision to your eye doctor right away. It is also very crucial that you keep those health conditions under control by reporting any changes in your health to your general practitioner.
No matter your age, a yearly comprehensive eye exam is essential to maintaining your eye health. But it is even more important if you have certain health issues or are over 50 years old. And in some cases, it could alert you to serious health issues that you might not even realize you have. Don’t put your eye health or overall health at risk, schedule your next eye exam with Valley Eyecare Center by calling (602) 955-2700.
