August is National Eye Exam Month

Eye exams aren’t just about vision. They’re about your health. Vision care is essential to your overall health and wellness.

Your eyes are more than the windows to your soul. They can also reveal what’s happening in your blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues throughout your body.

Problems spotted in the eye are often the first signs of illness throughout the body. That’s why it’s important to have your eyes checked regularly. 

We encourage everyone to have their vision screened once a year. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all adults get a complete eye exam at age 40. This is when early signs of disease or changes in vision may first appear. If you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of eye disease, don’t delay — schedule an eye exam at an earlier age.

Here are just some of the conditions your eye doctor may detect during a comprehensive eye exam:

·         Aneurysm

·         Brain tumor

·         Cancers of blood, tissue, or skin

·         Diabetes

·         Giant cell arteritis

·         Heart disease

·         High blood pressure

·         High cholesterol

·         Lupus

·         Lyme disease

·         Medication toxicities

·         Multiple sclerosis

·         Myasthenia gravis

·         Rheumatoid arthritis

·         Sarcoidosis

·         Sexually transmitted diseases

·         Sickle cell disease

·         Sjögren’s syndrome

·         Stroke

·         Thyroid disease

·         Vascular disease

·         Vitamin A deficiency

Schedule an eye exam to not only ensure that you are seeing clearly, but also to keep an eye on your overall health.  
If you are on the GEA Insurance Plan, make sure you understand the coverage you have through DavisVision. The standard vision plan covers one eye exam per calendar year and eyeglasses, frames, and or contact lenses once every other calendar year.