Even if you think you have perfect vision, annual eye exams are one of the best things you can do to protect your eye health, and the overall wellness of you and your loved ones.
Regular eye exams and visits to your optometrist should never be an optional extra; they are a necessity. This is because the quality of your vision and the health of your eyes are fundamental to your quality of life.
In fact, yearly eye exams can have incredible benefits, including:
- Early detection of serious eye conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.
- Prevention of vision loss.
- Early detection of certain health problems, such as diabetes and strokes.
- Ensures you’re wearing the right eyeglasses prescription for clearer vision.
- Lower healthcare costs.
Comprehensive Eye Exams at our Calgary Clinic
At Market Mall Optometry, we understand just how important regular eye exams are for the health of your eyes and your overall well-being. We offer comprehensive vision services, including eye exams, eye emergency care, and cataract management, to ensure all your needs are met.
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Comprehensive Eye Exams: It’s About More Than Just Your Vision
While most people believe that a comprehensive eye exam is just a vision test, the truth is that getting your eyes checked can have benefits that go well beyond your optometrist’s office. Because of the eye’s small nerves and blood vessels, and its proximity to the brain, an eye exam is one of the least invasive steps you can take to protect your overall health.
Here are some of the conditions your optometrist can help you diagnose early:
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Brain Injuries and Neurological Conditions
Did you know that your optic nerve is essentially an extension of the brain? This means that any neurological condition, including Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis can be detected with an eye exam.
In fact, during a routine checkup, your optometrist can check for:
- Problems with eye movement
- Eye coordination
- Vision tracking
- The ability of your eyes to work together
Because many mental health conditions and brain injuries, including strokes, can affect parts of the brain that affect eye coordination, your eye doctor will be able to detect any issues early on, ensuring you receive timely treatment.
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High Blood Pressure
Your eye doctor may be the first healthcare professional to detect high blood pressure through a comprehensive eye exam. How? Blood vessels in the eye may exhibit bends, kinks, or tears, and this may be an indication of hypertension.
This is extremely important for your overall health because high blood pressure is a leading cause of many health conditions such as:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Chronic heart failure
Added benefit: The information obtained through an eye exam can help healthcare providers treat patients preventively, to decrease their risks of cardiovascular disease.
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Diabetes
As many as one million Canadians are living with undiagnosed diabetes and in many cases, optometrists are the first healthcare professionals to see indicators of the disease before it is formally diagnosed.
How? Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye).
Why this is important: Catching diabetes early with a comprehensive eye exam can reduce the risk of diabetes-related vision loss (diabetic retinopathy) and other life-threatening complications such as kidney failure and heart disease.
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Cancer
A comprehensive eye exam includes tests of your peripheral vision and eye muscle function, that can often be the first line of detection of a brain tumor.
Depending on their location, a brain tumor can cause:
- Loss of side vision
- Abnormal eye movements
- Double vision
- Vision loss or other changes in eyesight
In addition to this, a comprehensive eye exam with a qualified optometrist can identify any unusual structures and growths within the eye.
Call Today
To find out more about how our qualified eye doctors can help protect your eye health, and your overall well-being, contact our Calgary clinic today at 403-286-4884 or book an eye exam today.
