Eyes are an integral part of overall health. As we provide eye care, we must also consider full-body health, making sure we treat patients holistically. As we do so, it is our job to focus on prevention, helping patients to act in ways today that will minimize their burden in the future.
During an eye exam, we have the opportunity not only to assess eye health but also to detect various diseases that are not primarily eye conditions. I have most commonly identified diabetes and hypertension, but it is also possible to detect other cardiovascular conditions, as well as autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.1 These diagnoses can be made noninvasively, and they can come early on in the disease progression.
Annual exams are crucial for this type of evaluation, and we must emphasize to patients that the exams are about more than just vision. When we have patients in the chair, it is also a good opportunity to educate them about the elements of lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation that are central to holistic health.
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Source: Optometry Times