They say the eyes are the window to the soul—but they’re also a window into your body. According to ophthalmologist Dr. Douglas Wisner, your eyes are the only place where doctors can directly observe blood vessels and nerves without surgery. That makes a comprehensive eye exam more powerful than most people realize.
A dilated eye exam doesn’t just reveal whether you need glasses—it can uncover signs of serious conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. “Whatever is happening in the eyes is happening throughout the body,” explains Dr. Wisner.
For instance, early diabetic damage can be spotted through leaky blood vessels in the retina, even before a patient shows symptoms. Likewise, hypertensive retinopathy, caused by high blood pressure, can damage the eyes, and your doctor may spot this before you ever feel a thing.
Your eye doctor might also catch signs of:
- Atherosclerosis, via cholesterol plaques in the retina.
- Sjögren’s syndrome is marked by severe dry eye.
- Multiple sclerosis is characterized by sudden vision loss or optic nerve pain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the eyes, potentially causing inflammation in certain parts.
- Ocular melanoma, a rare but serious eye cancer.
And it’s not just the eyeball under scrutiny. Skin cancers on the eyelid are also on an eye doctor’s radar.
To protect your vision and your health, experts recommend getting an eye exam every two years (or annually if you’re over 65 or at risk), wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, using protective eyewear during activities, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Bottom line? Your eyes aren’t just about vision—they might be the first to show when something deeper is going on.