Your Eyes: Windows to Your Health

There are many reasons to keep your eyes healthy. One of which is that so much of our communication with the world around us comes through our eyes. The eyes are not only responsible for sight but also color and depth perception. Needless to say, it is important to keep them functioning as good as possible.

A comprehensive eye exam is not only for eye health or detecting eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration or myopia. An Optometrist can also detect other systemic issues during an eye exam, which includes looking inside of your eye.

Without a comprehensive eye exam, you may not be aware of potential problems inside your eye. Because the retina has no nerve endings, even if there is an issue you could still see clearly and not feel any pain.

Your retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly. This means, in addition to eye conditions, signs of other diseases —such as stroke, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes) can be seen in the retina. The earlier these issues are detected; the faster treatments can begin to avoid damage to your precious sight and overall health.

You’ve probably heard the adage, “the eyes are the window to the soul”. Well, we now have a technology called Optomap* that gives that saying a whole new meaning. Dilation is the industry standard and reveals 100% of the retina. However, your doctor may recommend using Optomap in addition to or instead of dilation. Our Optomap ultra-widefield retinal imaging device captures more than 82% of your retina in one image whereas, traditional methods of retinal imaging typically reveal only 10-15% of your retina.

If you choose to receive an Optomap during your visit, your doctor can show you things they typically see during a dilated exam. They can also compare changes in your retina year over year by saving the Optomap in your digital health record.

At Simon Eye, we are committed to providing you with eye care for life by using state-of-the-art technology and delivering an excellent patient experience every time you visit. We recommend that our patients include an Optomap as part of your annual comprehensive eye exam.

*Optomap is not covered by insurance and you will incur a $39.00 charge at the time of your appointment.