Health in sight
FEB 27, 2015
Many of us consider visiting the eye doctor when we notice a change in our vision. The truth is, eye exams take more than just your vision into account. In fact, your eyes can reveal a great deal about your overall health. And many common eye diseases often have no symptoms.
That’s why we recommend an eye exam every 1 to 2 years for adults. Children should have regular eye exams, too, to determine healthy visual development and learning.
A routine eye exam:
- helps to provide early detection of general health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease
- is one of the best ways to assess your circulatory system, by examining the optic nerve and the blood flowing through your retina
- can signal signs of eye trouble, including cataracts, dry eyes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration
Kaiser Permanente members can make an appointment for an eye exam by contacting your local optometry department. No referral is needed. Depending on your location, you may be able to make an appointment online.
