What Your Eyes Can Reveal About Your Heart Health
February is Heart Health Month – and while most people think about blood pressure and cholesterol, few realize that your eyes can reveal important signs about your cardiovascular health.
At DeVito Eye Care in Naperville, we evaluate more than just your vision during a comprehensive eye exam. The tiny blood vessels in your retina are the only blood vessels in the body that can be viewed directly without surgery. That means your eye exam can offer valuable insight into your overall health.
The Eye-Heart Connection
Conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels often show early warning signs in the eyes, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Increased stroke risk
- Vascular blockages
Changes in the retinal blood vessels may signal inflammation, narrowing, leakage, or reduced blood flow – sometimes before you experience noticeable symptoms.
Why Annual Eye Exams Matter
Many cardiovascular-related conditions develop silently. You may feel completely fine while changes are occurring in your body.
During your comprehensive exam, we use advanced imaging technology, including:
- OPTOS wide-field retinal imaging to evaluate the overall health of the retina
- Maestro Eye Wellness Scan (OCT) to assess the deeper retinal layers and optic nerve
These tools allow us to document and monitor subtle changes over time, providing an additional layer of preventive care.
Eye Exams Are Preventive Healthcare
An annual eye exam isn’t just about updating your prescription. It’s part of protecting your long-term health.
If you have:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- A family history of heart disease
- Or are over age 40
Regular eye exams are especially important.
Protect Your Vision – and Your Health
This February, take a proactive step for your overall wellness. If it’s been a year or more since your last eye exam, now is the perfect time to schedule.
Your eyes may reveal more than you think.
📍 Serving Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Lisle, Bolingbrook, and surrounding communities.