5 unexpected health problems an eye test can pick up

Diabetes

When someone is living with diabetes their body can’t keep blood sugar (glucose, the main source of energy for our bodies) at a healthy level in their blood. If blood sugar goes too high or low, the sugar content in the blood can damage blood vessels, including those in the retina (the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye which sends signals to the brain), causing them to leak and bleed. An optometrist can pick up these changes using their equipment.

Diabetes can also cause problems with vision, sometimes a patient may see an optometrist because they have blurry or double vision and believe they need glasses. Instead, this may be a symptom of diabetes.

High Blood Pressure

The eye is the only organ within the body that veins and arteries can be seen without having to undergo invasive surgery. Sam says, “With our equipment we can see the veins and arteries and check if there’s any sort of hardening which is associated with high blood pressure.”

High Cholesterol

Similar to high blood pressure, high cholesterol can be detected by looking at the veins and arteries in your eye. If cholesterol plaques build up inside a blood vessel, this can cause a blockage which can cause sudden vision loss or be a signal of a stroke. “But if we detect it early,” Sam says, “we can let your GP know and they can assist the issue with cholesterol medication to reduce the risk of further blockages.”

Arthritis

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation all around the body, including in the eye. There are different types of arthritis, some forms can increase the pressure of the fluid in your eye, leading to nerve damage. Some patients are unaware of any arthritis symptoms until after their eye exam.

Tumours

Brain tumours have the potential to affect your eyes and vision. “It’s not until we look behind the eye to the visual pathway which connects the eyes to the brain, that we might see signs to suggest a tumour” Sam says. A tumour is simply a group of abnormal cells that don’t die, as our normal cells do. This means that the tumour continues to grow with more and more cells joining the mass. Not all tumours are cancerous, but you should always seek treatment and advice from your GP.

Alzheimer’s: early detection is next

Research suggests the retina is thinner in people with Alzheimer’s disease¹. Treatments for Alzheimer’s work best when the disease is found early and managed during the early stages². Alzheimer’s could be identified by a non-invasive scan at an eye test. However, the type of retinal scan needed is not commercially available yet and may become available in the future.

How often should I get my eyes tested

How often you should have your eyes tested depends on your age and circumstances:

• School-aged children and adults are recommended to have an eye test every two years.
• People aged 65 and over are eligible for a yearly bulk-billed eye examination.
• If you have a progressing or new condition your optometrist may recommend eye tests more often.

Last reviewed August 2025

¹Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry (2020), Retinal imaging in Alzheimer’s disease. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/9/983

²The Conversation (2022), A window to the brain: the retina gives away signs of Alzheimer’s disease and could help with early detection. https://theconversation.com/a-window-to-the-brain-the-retina-gives-away-signs-of-alzheimers-disease-and-could-help-with-early-detection

*Eye tests are bulk-billed through Medicare and subject to eligibility and Medicare conditions.