Having regular eye checks is not just about your sight – but your health in general.
By examining your eyes, our opticians can detect a whole range of different health problems – early detection which can be life-saving in some instances.
Almost two million people are affected by diabetes in the UK – and it is thought that one million more may have the condition and not yet realise it.
The health of your eye is a great indicator of diabetes, and it is often opticians who flag up the condition first.
What’s more, once diagnosed, your optician can then work closely with your GP to monitor the disease, and our practices have specialised equipment to help with diabetic screening.
It is estimated that around a third of the 16,000 brain tumors diagnosed each year first come to light through a routine eye test, often at an early - and life-saving - stage.
Other conditions which can be detected through eye examinations include:
- High blood cholesterol, which can lead to coronary heart disease, stroke and heart attack
- High blood pressure, which can cause similar problems.
- Cancers
- Thyroid disease
- Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
