The Eye Exam - Why Is It So Important?

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Everyone knows that your Optometrist is the person to see for your glasses and contact lens prescriptions. But, the health portion of the exam is often overlooked by patients.

There are many, many ocular and systemic conditions that can be detected and followed by your Optometrist with regular eye exams. Here is a short list of some of the more important/common conditions:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Retinal detachments
• Retinal holes and tears (common in highly near-sighted patients)
• Bacterial and viral infections
• Eye turns and lazy eyes
• Colour deficiencies
• Stereopsis (our ability to see 3D)

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Thyroid problems
• Inflammatory conditions such as: colitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Brain tumors
• Nerve problems in the eye and brain
• Stroke
• Blocked arteries in the neck and head
• HIV/AIDS
• And many more...

Thanks for reading. Any and all feedback, questions and comments are always welcome. Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who may be interested.