With this exam, your eye doctor can see the retina (which senses light and images), the optic disk (where the optic nerve takes the information to the brain) and blood vessels.
Opticians are able to detect a build-up of pressure in the brain which can be an early sign of a brain tumour.
During an eye exam, it is possible to notice signs of cancer in and around the eye. Ocular melanoma may be noticed in pigmentation within the eye. Even basal cell carcinomas may be noticed on the eyelid.
Optic neuritis can be detected during an eye examination.
Hearing and vision loss- A tumor that is located near the optical nerve could cause blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision. Depending on the size and location of a tumor, abnormal eye movements and other vision changes like seeing floating spots or shapes knows as an “aura” may result.
Orbital tumors are abnormal growths of tissue in the structures that surround the eye. These lesions may be either benign or malignant, and may arise primarily from the orbit or may spread (metastasize) from elsewhere in the body.
Multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS causes the immune system to attack nerve fibers and causes miscommunication between the brain and other parts of the body. When your optometrist detects optic nerve inflammation, that can indicate a diagnosis of MS.
Here are five reasons why you may get referred to a specialist: You experience a sudden change in your eyes, such as partial or full loss of vision. You experience pain, inflammation or have an eye injury. You develop vision problems that glasses or contact lenses can't correct.
Yes, your eye doctor can see eye floaters during an eye exam. While most of the time floaters are harmless, sometimes they can indicate a serious, sight-threatening eye problem – such as retinal detachment.
These refractive errors are the most common eye problems in the U.S. Refractive errors include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and distorted vision at all distances (astigmatism). These eye conditions can be helped with eyeglasses, contacts or surgery.
A comprehensive eye examination can detect, monitor and even predict many systemic (bodily) diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, as well as many autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Many diseases often begin with little or no obvious symptoms, yet they can be picked up in a routine eye test. If spotted early, a diagnosis of one of these devastating illnesses can be life-saving. We recommend having an eye test every two years to check the health of your eyes.
Surgery is often the best option for removing these tumors. This is because benign tumors don't respond to either radiation or chemotherapy, as the cells are not cancer cells. But benign tumors can still grow and begin pressing on areas of the eye, such as the optic nerve.
These may include: seizures, difficulty thinking or speaking, changes in personality, anxiety, depression, disorientation, fatigue, abnormal eye movements, numbness or tingling on one side of the body, weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance, vision changes, memory loss, nausea, generalized pain, trouble ...
Blurry vision, double vision, and loss of vision are all associated with tumors, Schwartz says. You may also see floating spots or shapes—or what's known as an "aura."
A non-cancerous (benign) tumour of the eye is a growth that does not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Non-cancerous tumours are not usually life-threatening. Non-cancerous tumours of the eye share many of the same signs and symptoms.
Diagnosis. In addition to damaging vision, eye tumors can spread to the optic nerve, the brain and the rest of the body. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important. Melanoma tends to spread via blood vessels to distant organs.
Optometrists can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and treat most eye diseases.
An optometrist is trained to recognise abnormalities in your eyes. They examine the internal and external structure of your eyes to detect conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. They may also test your ability to focus and coordinate your eyes and see depth and colours accurately.