William Shakespeare once said the eyes are the window to the soul. But they can also offer an important peek into your health. That's why it's important to have an annual eye exam.
Common Eye Issues
Early detection and treatment can help some common eye issues from getting worse and threatening your vision. They include:
- Cataracts – This is the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.
- Glaucoma – Damage to the optic nerve can cause vision loss or blindness .
- Macular Degeneration – This gradual vision loss is often age related
“But I Have Perfect Vision!”
If your vision has always been good and you don't think it's changed, you might think you can skip your annual exam. Here's why you should go anyway:
There may be changes to your vision you haven't noticed. Eye doctors are trained to catch issues while they're treatable and before they become dangerous.
An eye exam may help detect serious, non-eye-related health issues like:
- Brain tumor – An eye exam may show swelling near the back of the eyes.
- Cancer – This includes leukemia, lymphoma, and skin cancers on the eyelids.
- Heart disease – Retinal imaging may help detect heart disease in the early stages.
- High blood pressure – During eye dilation, your eye doctor may spot indicators in your blood vessels in the back of the eye.
- High cholesterol – Your eye doctor will be looking for a blue or yellow ring around the cornea.
- Lupus – Swelling in certain parts of the eye or excessively dry eyes may indicate this inflammatory disease.
- Lyme disease – Signs include inflammation of the optic nerve and eye floaters.
- Multiple sclerosis – This disease can also cause optic nerve swelling and extreme blurred vision, eye pain or double vision.
- Myasthenia gravis – Drooping eyelids are often the first sign of this autoimmune disorder.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – Red eyes, dry eyes and severe eye pain can be signs.
- Sarcoidosis – The most common eye issue related to this inflammatory disease is painful, recurrent swelling of the iris.
- Sexually transmitted diseases – Surprisingly, an eye exam may detect STDs including syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, HIV, and gonorrhea.
- Sickle cell disease – This genetic blood disorder can cause burst blood vessels, severe eye bleeding and retinal detachment.
- Stroke – Blind spots in the eye may indicate stroke risk.
- Vitamin A deficiency – Your doctor will be looking for signs of dry eyes and night blindness. This deficiency is the number one cause of preventable blindness in children around the world.
- Diabetes – More than half of people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This eye disease causes damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye and can lead to vision loss when diabetes is uncontrolled.
Eyesight and Diabetes
Taking care of your eyes and getting yearly eye exams is especially important if you have diabetes. Your eye doctor may spot diabetic retinopathy before you have a diabetes diagnosis. Early detection and treatment can prevent or delay blindness in 90% of diabetics. Diabetes can also increase the risk of other eye problems like cataracts or glaucoma.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- seeing spots or “floaters"
- blurred vision
- an empty or dark spot in the center of your vision
- noticeable changes to your vision
- poor night vision
These symptoms may be constant or may come and go. Even if it seems like they've stopped, there can still be damage to your vision . Make sure you're getting your annual eye exam and that your exam includes dilation . This allows the eye doctor to look deeply into your eyes and spot potential issues.
Your vision will be blurry and sensitive to light while your eyes are dilated. To prepare for dilation:
- Bring dark sunglasses to your appointment. This will help with light sensitivity.
- Get someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Your eyes may be blurry for several hours , making it dangerous to drive.
Resources for TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care
Because children's eyes change quickly as they're growing, it's important to have them screened regularly. Your child's PCP will do an eye check at their yearly wellness visit, but this isn't the same as a vision screening. Be sure to ask their PCP at what age they recommend screenings . The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting at age three.
What You Can Do
1. Get Your Eyes Checked
Shockingly, only a bout 50% of those at high risk for vision loss get an annual eye exam. You have coverage with your TRS health plan. Be sure to see your eye doctor every year to keep your eyes healthy and protect against other health issues.
TRS-ActiveCare Primary – Annual vision exams are covered once per plan year with a $70 copay.
TRS-ActiveCare Primary+ – Annual vision exams are covered once per plan year with a $70 copay.
TRS-ActiveCare HD – Annual vision exams are covered once per plan year at 30% coinsurance after deductible in network or 50% coinsurance after deductible out of network.
TRS-ActiveCare 2 – Annual vision exams are covered once per plan year with a $70 copay in network and 40% coinsurance after deductible out of network.
TRS-Care Standard – Routine eye exams are covered for participants with diabetes at 20% coinsurance after deductible in network and 40% coinsurance after deductible out of network.
For 2025, TRS-Care Vision coverage will include routine eye exams with a $15 copay. You can enroll in this plan once a year during the enrollment window, Oct. 1 to Dec. 7, 2024. Coverage will start Jan. 1, 2025.
2. Share Results of Your Eye Exam
Your Primary Care Provider needs to know about any eye issues. Ask your eye doctor to share your results or share a copy yourself.
3. Heed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tips for Healthy Eyes at Every Age
They include:
- Sleep: Getting enough sleep helps your eyes recharge from the day and heal from everyday eye strain, poor air conditions, allergens, and pollutants.
- Go Outside: Going outdoors can give your eyes a break from eye strain.
- Put Your Sunglasses On: Ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage eyes, just like skin. Look for glasses with 100% UV protection.