Most people think of an eye test as a check on how well they can read the chart. That is part of it – but the back of your eye is the only place in the body where blood vessels and nerve tissue can be examined directly, without surgery. That makes an eye examination a genuine health check, not just a sight check.

What an eye examination can reveal

Diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy – damage to the small blood vessels of the retina – can be visible before a person knows they have diabetes. Spotting it early protects both sight and health.

High blood pressure. The retinal blood vessels show characteristic changes when blood pressure is raised, sometimes prompting us to suggest a visit to the GP long before other symptoms appear.

Glaucoma. Often called the silent thief of sight because it typically has no symptoms until permanent damage is done. Regular examinations are the only reliable way to catch it early – and early treatment usually prevents serious sight loss.

Macular degeneration and cataracts. The leading causes of sight deterioration as we age, both far better managed when found early.

Occasionally an eye examination reveals signs of rarer, more serious conditions – which is exactly when you want it found promptly.

Why our examinations look deeper

Our practice has invested in hospital-grade technology including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which scans beneath the surface of the retina layer by layer, and retinal photography that records a baseline so we can spot subtle changes year on year. It is one reason a thorough, unhurried examination matters more than a quick sight check.

Never rushed, always thorough

Members of the O’Leary Care Plan are automatically booked for our longest, most comprehensive examinations, with any additional tests included – from £8.50 a month. But whoever you are, our aim is the same: to look after your eyes properly.

When did someone last look at the health of your eyes, not just your prescription? Book an eye examination or call 01443 223 712.