What We Look For
Most think of an eye exam as a way to check on the quality of their vision. But a comprehensive eye exam is so much more. With our state-of-the-art equipment, we can diagnose not only conditions that impact your eyes, but warn you of potential medical problems.
Below are just some of the things we may help diagnose in your comprehensive eye examination.
- Diabetes – Diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed by an optometrist through a comprehensive dilated exam. This can sometimes be the first time a patient hears they may be diabetic.
- Hypertension – Optometrists are often on the front line of detecting this “silent killer”. 1 in 3 adults are affected by this conditions, and 1 in 5 adults don’t even know they have it. An eye exam can literally save your life.
- High Cholesterol – With a dilated eye exam, an optometrist can spot small pieces of plaque in the retinal vessels in the back of the eye. There is a good chance that if you have plaque there, you have it elsewhere.
- Cancer – Certain types of bleeding in the retina can signal Leukemia. Malignant melanoma can be found in the back of the eye. And brain tumors can sometimes be spotted through changes in your field of vision.
- Multiple Sclerosis – Inflammation of your optic nerve can sometimes be a symptom of MS. It occurs in MS patients 75 percent of the time. And in 25 percent of MS patients, it is the first symptom of the disease. A diagnosis of optic neuritis does not mean you have MS, but it is something that requires further medical testing.
- Arthritis – 25 percent of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from eye issues, with dry eyes being the most prevalent. Sometimes the inflammatory chemicals in the blood that RA patients have can make their way to the eyeball and be seen during an examination.
If that isn’t enough motivation to schedule an eye exam, our Chicago optometrists will diagnose and may treat many common eye conditions. Glaucoma, dry eyes, Amblyopia, and Strabismus are just a few.
The team at Wink Optical is committed to helping you maintain not only healthy vision, but also detecting diseases that can impact your life. Contact us today to schedule your eye exam and start a journey toward a healthier you.