Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “It’s all in the eyes”. And while the eyes can certainly tell at least part of a person’s life story, they can also tell the story of a person’s overall health. “A comprehensive eye exam can show us so much more than the health of your eyes,” said Dr. Farshid Ighani, founder of Ighani Eye Care in Bedford, Texas. “It can also show evidence of heart disease and other health conditions, allowing for diagnosis and intervention earlier than ever.”
Understanding the Link Between the Eyes and the Heart
The same health issues that damage blood vessels in the eye can also damage blood vessels in the heart. Conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are common risk factors for heart disease. They can also cause vision problems like:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Cataracts
- Changes in eye pressure that can lead to glaucoma
- Hypertensive Retinopathy
What You Can Do to Keep Your Eyes and Your Heart Healthy
With such a strong link between the health of the eyes and the heart, you may not be surprised to learn that many of the changes you could make to keep your body healthy are the same things that will keep your eyes healthy, too.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight. Excess weight has been linked to a higher risk of developing AMD in addition to contributing to cardiovascular disease.
- Don’t Smoke. People who smoke are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and developing AMD. They are also two to three times more likely to develop cataracts.
- Eat a Healthy Diet. The same foods that boost heart health can enhance your eye health, too, including leafy greens like kale and broccoli and cold water fish like salmon and sardines.
- Know Your Risks. Knowing your family’s health history is important. If you have a family member with AMD or glaucoma, you are at higher risk and should be screened more frequently than someone with no family history of eye disease.
- Have an Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam. Knowing about past and present family eye disorders can help save your vision. For example, if AMD runs in your family, you have a 50% chance of developing that sight-stealing condition. Additionally, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, a family history of glaucoma makes you four to nine times more likely to get the disease.
I Care. You’ll See.
At Ighani Eye Care, we are committed to the health of our patients in every season of life. “A commitment to comprehensive eye care is the best safeguard for maintaining good vision and eye health at any age,” said Dr. Ighani (aka Dr. I).
Dr. Ighani and Dr. Brian Anding are skilled ophthalmologists with tremendous experience in the diagnosis and treatment of many eye diseases and conditions. “Many of these eye conditions come with little to no warning or noticeable symptoms,” said Dr. Anding. “This is why an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam is so important.”
From laser-assisted cataract surgery in our on-site surgical suite to the treatment of eye injuries and the diagnosis and management of many eye conditions, Ighani Eye Care would like to be your trusted eye care provider for a lifetime. Take the first step in protecting your heart and eye health and schedule your comprehensive medical eye exam today.
