A thorough dilated eye examination can provide useful information about your whole body (systemic) health. Based on years of research and observation, eye doctors now have an excellent understanding of how systemic disease can first be detected during an eye exam.

Most importantly, the eye is the only organ in the body where a doctor can directly see blood vessels. The health of these vessels may indicate the condition of blood vessels throughout the body, and thus is helpful in identifying heart disease and diabetes. Changes in the retina (where blood vessels are massed) can also signal the presence of high blood pressure, stroke, HIV/AIDS, high cholesterol and sickle cell anemia. Inflammation of the iris may indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Protruding eyes might point to the presence of Grave’s disease; dry eyes may indicate Sjogren’s Syndrome or thyroid disorders; difficulty with eye movement, optic nerve inflammation or blind spots may suggest multiple sclerosis. We also have a handful of patients each year where a complaint of visual field loss leads us to the discovery of a previously undetected brain tumor. Dozens of other less common systemic conditions can also be detected through eye exams.

The internal systems of the eye, as well as the ocular surface and tissues surrounding the eye, are truly windows to the health of your body, so be sure to see your eye doctor for regular, dilated examinations. If your eye doctor detects any systemic abnormalities, he or she will work with your family physician or internist to determine if further treatment is required.