How an eye test could save your life

By Blua | Digital health by Bupa

6 minute read

Published 31 March 2025

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Key takeaways

Routine eye checks can detect more than just vision or eye health problems.
Blood vessels in the eyes can indicate signs of some serious health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.
Early detection of chronic health issues can be the key to improved health outcomes. Speak to your optometrist for more information.

Did you know that some serious health conditions (including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers) can be detected through a routine eye test?

What the eye can reveal about your health

Looking into the eyes is one of the easiest and least invasive ways to get a snapshot of your health, says Karen Makin, Head Optometrist at Bupa Optical and Hearing.

"The eyes are the only organ in the body where we can view blood vessels directly without cutting somebody open. It's a really easy way to get a lot of information."

One of the primary things an eyecare practitioner might look for when examining the eyes is changes in the retina, such as leaking or haemorrhaging of the blood vessels.

"These changes can indicate the presence of high blood pressure or systemic disease, such as cardiovascular disease," says Makin. "I've also seen people with a white ring around the coloured part of the eye or cholesterol deposits on the eye lids, both of which may suggest high cholesterol, another risk factor for heart disease."

Symptoms of diabetes can also present in the eyes.

Sometimes the first indication a person has that they might have diabetes can be a change in vision.

"We would be looking for changes in the back of the eye and bleeding of the retinal blood vessels."

Even some cancers can be detected simply by looking in the eyes.

"Some more common ones that we might see are basal cell carcinomas. Other types of cancer, such as malignant melanomas, can develop in the eye. You can also get eye cancers on the white of the eye or on the iris, so we would be looking out for those."

When to get an eye test

Global recommendations are that healthy adults should get a routine eye check every 2 years.

"If you have any chronic health issues, such as diabetes, or a family history of glaucoma, your optometrist may say once a year is preferable," says Makin. "Age is a risk factor for many eye conditions and health issues, including heart disease, so after the age of 40 I'd suggest getting a routine eye check every year."

If you experience any changes in your vision, such as vision loss, blurring, flashes or floaters, you should see your optometrist immediately. As well as eye conditions, these symptoms can also indicate other health problems.

“It’s important to note that these conditions may be present in the body but not show up in the eyes at all,” says Makin. “As we age, staying on top of all annual health tests, such as mammograms, bowel cancer screenings and heart health checks, will help detect early stages of any condition that may require treatment.”

The type of eye test you get may also change with age, says Makin.

“We might not do a pressure check in young children and we’re not looking for eye conditions related to ageing such as glaucoma, so instead we focus more on vision and colour tests. With adults we might add in certain tests such as dilating pupils so we can see more of the eye and other tests that can identify common eye ageing issues. It’s good to flag any concerns or family history if your optometrist doesn’t ask so they know what to look out for.”

What health conditions can show up in the eyes?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 20 health conditions can be detected during an eye test.¹ These include:

aneurysm
brain tumour
cancers of the blood, tissue or skin
diabetes
giant cell arteritis
heart disease
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
lupus
Lyme disease
multiple sclerosis
myasthenia gravis
rheumatoid arthritis
sarcoidosis
sexually transmitted diseases
sickle cell disease
Sjogren's syndrome
stroke
thyroid disease
vascular disease
vitamin A deficiency.

See your healthcare practitioner if you're worried about any of the conditions listed and flag any family history with your optometrist at your next appointment.

At Bupa, trust is everything

Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.

This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.