Can Eye Exams Detect Problems Beyond Vision?

By Brianna Sosa

Most people think of an eye exam as a simple check for blurry vision or the need for glasses, but eye exams are far more powerful than many realize. The eyes provide a unique window into your overall health, and comprehensive eye exams can identify signs of systemic and serious health conditions before other symptoms appear (AARP, 2021).

In this blog, we’ll explore how eye exams can reveal health issues beyond vision, why they matter, and what conditions they can help detect early. 

How the Eyes Reflect Overall Health

Your eyes are the only place in the body where blood vessels, nerves, and tissues can be observed directly and non-invasively. During a comprehensive eye exam, an eye care professional uses tools like dilated retinal examination and optic nerve evaluation to look for subtle changes that may reflect systemic disease (Anthem 2025). 

This isn’t just about seeing clearly, it’s preventive health care. 

In fact, optometrists and ophthalmologists can identify signs of over 270 chronic and systemic diseases just by examining the eye (Anthem 2025).

Dr. Emily O'Meara, Annapolis Opticians

Common Health Conditions Detectable Through Eye Exams

Here’s a closer look at some major non-vision conditions that eye exams can often catch early:

•  Diabetes

  • Changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina, such as bleeding, microaneurysms, or swelling, can be early indicators of diabetes, often before other symptoms are noticeable. Early detection helps prevent vision loss and other complications (AARP, 2021). 

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

  • High blood pressure can cause changes in retinal blood vessels, including narrowing, bleeding, or vessel stiffening. These signs are often visible during routine examination (AARP, 2021). 

    
    

• Heart Disease & Stroke Risk

  • Eye exams can reveal plaque deposits or blockages in retinal arteries that suggest cardiovascular risk, sometimes years before a heart condition or stroke is diagnosed (Anthem 2025). 

    
    

• Neurological Conditions

  • Changes in the optic nerve or visual field,  such as swelling, loss of nerve color, or abnormal eye movement, can signal neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, or previous stroke effects (AARP, 2021). 

    
    

• Autoimmune Disorders

  • Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can cause inflammation or dryness in the eyes, which may be spotted before joint or systemic symptoms develop (AARP, 2021). 

    
    

• Thyroid Disorders

  • Eye-related signs of thyroid dysfunction, such as bulging eyes or lid retraction seen in Graves’ disease, can be identified in a comprehensive eye exam (AARP, 2021). 

    
    

• Cancer

  • Some cancers, including ocular melanoma and cancers that metastasize to the eye (like lymphoma or breast cancer), may show signs during an eye exam. Basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid can also be found visually (University of Utah Health, 2023).

Why Regular Eye Exams Matter

Eye exams are not just for people who wear glasses. Many of the conditions listed above, like hypertension, diabetes, or early cancer changes, have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, yet they can show up in the eye. Detecting them early can mean earlier treatment, better outcomes, and sometimes even saving lives (Anthem 2025). 

Eye doctors often recommend:

• Annual comprehensive exams, especially for adults over age 40 (Anthem 2025).

• Earlier and more frequent checks for those with risk factors like family history or existing health conditions (Anthem 2025). 

  
  

Eye exams do much more than correct your vision. They’re vital windows into your systemic health, capable of revealing early signs of diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, and even some cancers, long before other symptoms appear. Scheduling regular comprehensive eye exams isn’t just good for your eye — it’s good for your overall health. 

Sources

AARP. (2026). Keeping Your Vision Healthy: Eye Tests and Diagnoses. AARP. Retrieved [date you accessed the article], from https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2024/eye-tests-and-diagnosis.html

Anthem. (2025, November 13). How regular eye exams detect more than vision problems. Anthem. Retrieved [date you accessed the article], from https://www.anthem.com/employer/the-benefits-guide/how-regular-eye-exams-detect-more-than-vision-problems?

University of Utah Health. (2023, November 28). Six health conditions an eye exam can reveal. Retrieved [date you accessed the article], from https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2023/11/six-health-conditions-eye-exam-can-reveal