Heart Health And Your Eyes

You might not realize there’s a connection, but your eyes and your heart are closely related.  Your eyes require a lot of oxygen to function and the oxygen that is needed is pumped through your heart.  If your eyes don’t receive enough oxygen, you can lose your eyesight.  That is why it is important to keep up with thorough eye examinations.  Your physician will be able to look at the blood vessels in your retina and see possible signs of heart disease.

Also, your doctor can look at the blood vessels in your eye and detect signs of high blood pressure or even diabetes. If your doctor sees small emboli in the eye, they can be coming from an arteriosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery or they can come from emboli in the heart.

If you can’t afford an eye exam, you might be eligible for a free medical eye exam if you are over 65 years of age.  Contact the American Academy of Ophthalmology.  They have a public service program called EyeCare America program.  The public service program matches volunteer ophthalmologists with eligible patients who need eye care in the U.S.  For more information visit:

EyeCare America