When you think of taking a trip to the eye doctor, you probably only think about a standard eye and vision exam to determine whether or not you are in need of corrective lenses. And for many people, this is the only true concern that they need to have about their eye health throughout the majority of their lives. However, if you have certain medical conditions or issues, then trips to the ophthalmologist become more of a medical necessity than an optional vision assessment. So, get to know the surprising medical conditions that can affect your vision. If you suffer from one of these medical conditions, take heed and contact an ophthalmologist or a California Eye Specialists Medical Group Inc. as soon as possible to ensure you protect your eye health.
Diabetes
Diabetes is more than just a digestive disorder. It can actually affect virtually all of your body systems, including your eyes and vision. In fact, if not properly treated or controlled, diabetes can lead to total blindness.
More commonly, however, diabetes causes what is known as diabetic retinopathy or can contribute to the development of glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy is a term applied to the damage done to the retina by diabetes. This disorder involves the capillaries and blood vessels that feed the eyes. The capillaries can become swollen and damaged causing a great deal of discomfort and temporary vision disturbances.
If you have diabetes, it is a good idea to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to get your eyes checked regularly. Additionally, if you do develop diabetic retinopathy or other eye disorders affected by your diabetes, they will be able to quickly and effectively help you get treated so your vision does not continue to suffer.
HIV and AIDS
HIV and the resulting AIDS virus are autoimmune disorders that can cause a plethora of problems throughout the body. Among these, of course, are various eye disorder and infections.
Because HIV and AIDS weaken and affect the immune system, you are more prone to eye infections (among others) when you suffer from such afflictions. For the most part, however, patients who have the HIV virus but who remain healthy and control the virus through medications, do not develop eye disorder.
But, for those whose HIV is not under control or who develop AIDS, several eye disorders can develop including HIV retinopathy, CMV (cytomegalovirus) retinitis, and even a form of sarcoma (cancer) of the eyes. If you have HIV or AIDS, regular visits to the eye doctor are necessary to prevent serious eye conditions that could cause extreme discomfort and blindness.
As you can see, your medical conditions and overall health can easily affect your eye health as well. If you suffer from certain medical conditions, regular visits to the eye doctor become less of an option and more of a medical necessity. So, if you find yourself to be one of these people, be sure to go to the ophthalmologist as soon as possible to ensure your continued eye health.
Share15 January 2015
When was the last time you went to an optometrist? If you are like most people, you only go when your glasses break or you run out of contact lenses. Very few people actually follow the guidelines of having their eyes checked each year. Not sure why it is necessary to visit your optometrist each year? You can learn all about the different exams and tests that your optometrist runs and why they are done. Knowing what can go wrong with your eyes and what can be done if the ailments are detected early could help to encourage you to get to the optometrist more often.
