Vision viewpoints: Eye health and whole-body diseases

Posted on May 1, 2025 in Healthy You

Your eyes are the window to the soul, the world…and to your overall health. It’s true: An eye exam can reveal a lot more about you beyond your vision health. Whole-body diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are sometimes first discovered by an eye specialist.

Dr. Chad Overman, Delta Dental of Iowa’s medical expert for DeltaVision®, reveals the surprising link between your eyes and whole-body diseases.

Q: How can an eye exam show signs of whole-body health issues? 

Dr. Overman: During an eye exam, one way a vision specialist can see inside your eye is through dilation. Dilation is a simple procedure and involves eye drops to widen your pupil (the black circle in the center of your eye). Dilation allows the provider to see inside the eye, the retina (a layer of nerve tissue in the back of your eye) and nearby blood vessels without surgery or doing an expensive scan. These blood vessels are essentially the same ones running throughout your body and give us great insight into the body’s overall health.

Q: What are some of the most common whole-body diseases that first show symptoms in the eyes? 

Dr. Overman: Many diseases can first show symptoms in the eyes. Among the most common is diabetes, which can cause blurry vision or even vision loss. High blood pressure is another condition showing symptoms in the eyes, as it may lead to burst blood vessels in the eye or retinal damage. Autoimmune diseases like lupus can cause dry eye or inflammation. Thyroid issues can cause bulging eyes or double vision. Multiple sclerosis can also cause nerve problems in the eyes. Those are examples of the most common, but many other conditions can show symptoms in your eyes.

Q: What are some early warning signs in the eyes that might signal a bigger health issue? 

Dr. Overman: Most of these diseases do not cause pain or other early warning signs. Regular visits to your provider is the only way to detect diseases early on. However, changes like blurry vision (retinopathy), sudden vision loss, persistent eye strain or losing your side vision (peripheral vision loss) can be red flags. If you experience them, see an eye care professional immediately to get to the root cause.

Q: What lifestyle changes can patients make to protect their eye health and overall health? 

Dr. Overman: Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C and E is good for total health and has specific benefits for eye health. Also, quitting smoking lowers the risk of vision conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Regular exercise improves blood circulation, which supports both eye and overall health. Wearing sunglasses is also important, as it protects against sun damage. Last but certainly not least: Scheduling yearly eye exams helps catch potential issues early, ensuring better long-term vision and well-being.

Q: What's the one key message you'd like people to remember about the importance of eye health to their overall well-being?

Dr. Overman: Your eyes are “windows” to your overall health, often revealing signs of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or neurological disorders before other symptoms appear. A yearly eye exam isn’t just about vision — it’s a head start in catching potential health issues early, allowing for better treatment and prevention. Prioritizing eye care helps protect both your sight and your total-body health.