Your vision is essential. Studies say that up to 80% of information is received through sight. That means whenever you’re using your phone, driving, or doing a task at work, your vision plays a major role. In fact, poor vision can reduce accuracy in the workplace by almost half, so it’s important to keep your sight sharp for maximum productivity. Eye exams are an underestimated source for healthcare savings, and one of the most important tools we have to stay healthy.
Eye exams aren’t just good for preventing sight problems. They can also discover latent eye diseases. These are conditions that can cloud your vision or lead to blindness if left untreated. This includes notorious vision problems like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
And the benefit of eye exams goes beyond just eye health. Your eyes are connected to your other organs through a massive system of nerves. This is known as the “eye-body connection.” By studying the results of an eye exam, it’s possible for your doctor to diagnose issues elsewhere in your body. Eye exams can detect over 30 critical disorders including diabetes, hypertension, brain tumors, and HIV. In fact, it’s not uncommon to be sent straight to the emergency room for a lifesaving treatment after an eye exam has revealed a serious medical condition. By far the best way to keep healthcare costs low is through early detection. Advances in eyecare have made discovering systemic conditions cheaper and more accessible — increasing the number of diagnoses and lives saved. For instance, the only way to detect Alzheimer’s disease used to be through spinal taps or PET scans. These are far more expensive and invasive options when compared to an eye exam. Eye exams can detect the brain damage associated with Alzheimer’s up to 20 years before a clinical diagnosis. With this information, treatment can begin before the disease takes a toll on the body. Regular eye exams are a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. With just one check up a year you can ensure you’re on top of potential vision threats and life threatening diseases.
General Vision Services (GVS) is a leading provider of affordable and comprehensive eyecare benefits in the tri-state area. Contact us by phone at 800.VISION.1, or online at GeneralVision.com
Tony Rosario is Executive Vice President at GVS. He has 28 years of management experience in the healthcare industry and has worked in vision care for nearly 20 years.
