5 Eye Conditions a Comprehensive Eye Exam Can Detect

Your vision is one of your most valuable health assets, and many eye conditions can develop quietly, without obvious warning signs. Here at Kvitle Eye Care Associates in Quincy, Illinois, we understand how important it is to protect your family’s eyesight through proactive care. That’s why we emphasize the value of a comprehensive eye exam—far more than just a simple vision screening, these exams use advanced diagnostic technology to detect issues much earlier than you might notice them yourself.

Many of our patients assume that if they can see clearly, their eyes must be healthy. However, some eye conditions show no obvious symptoms in their early stages. A comprehensive eye exam goes beyond reading letters on a chart. We evaluate the complete health of your eyes, from the front structures to the retina and optic nerve, giving us a full picture of your ocular wellness.

There are many eye conditions we can detect during an eye examination, and here are five of the most common.

What Is Glaucoma and How Do We Detect It?

We often call glaucoma the “silent thief of sight” because it can affect your optic nerve gradually, with few or no symptoms until vision changes become noticeable. The optic nerve is the vital connection between your eye and your brain, and keeping it healthy is essential for maintaining clear vision.

Glaucoma is typically caused by increased pressure inside the eye due to fluid buildup, though not everyone with high eye pressure develops glaucoma, and some people with normal pressure can still develop it.

What makes glaucoma detection so important is that it affects more than 3 million Americans and is one of the leading causes of preventable vision changes. At Kvitle Eye Care Associates, we take a thorough approach during your comprehensive eye exam to assess your risk and catch glaucoma early. We measure your intraocular pressure with tonometry, a quick test that gives us valuable information about the pressure inside your eye. We also evaluate your optic nerve with a dilated eye exam and advanced imaging, and check your peripheral vision with visual field testing to spot any early changes.

If you have a family history of glaucoma, are over 60, have diabetes, or experience high blood pressure, we recommend regular screenings every six months. Early detection through comprehensive eye exams helps us provide timely care that can keep your vision clear and maintain your eye health. Treatment options may include prescription eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery, depending on your individual needs and how the condition progresses.

How Does Diabetic Retinopathy Affect Your Vision?

If you have diabetes—whether type 1 or type 2—or even prediabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a something you should be aware of. This diabetes-related condition occurs when the blood vessels in your retina are affected and begin to leak blood and fluid. It’s another vision concern that often develops without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, which is why regular diabetic eye exams are so beneficial for anyone managing diabetes.

We’ve invested in advanced technology specifically designed to detect diabetic changes before you experience noticeable vision changes. During your comprehensive eye exam, we’ll dilate your eyes to get a clear view of your retina, and we use specialized imaging including OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans and retinal photography. These non-invasive tests take only about five minutes each and allow us to examine the retina, macula, and peripheral retinal blood vessels in detail.

What many don’t realize is that changes from diabetic retinopathy can occur even when diabetes is well-managed with medication and lifestyle modifications. That’s why we recommend annual comprehensive eye exams—or more frequently if we detect any changes—for all our patients with diabetes or prediabetes. If we identify Diabetic Macular Edema (swelling in the macula), we’ll perform additional OCT imaging to assess the extent and guide treatment decisions. Early intervention can make a significant difference in preserving your vision and maintaining healthy eyes for years to come.

What You Should Know About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, commonly known as AMD, is a leading cause of vision changes in adults over 60 and affects the central vision you need for everyday tasks like reading, driving, and recognizing the faces of friends and family. The macula is a small but crucial part of your retina responsible for sharp, detailed central vision, and keeping it healthy helps you maintain your quality of life.

There are two distinct types of AMD that we look for during comprehensive eye exams. Dry AMD is the more common form, developing gradually as the macula thins with age and protein deposits called drusen accumulate. While there’s currently no treatment to reverse Dry AMD, we can help slow its progression through vitamin therapy and careful monitoring. Wet AMD, though less common, develops more rapidly when new blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and fluid, causing scarring of the macula. The good news is that if we catch Wet AMD early, treatment options are available that can help preserve your remaining vision.

During your macular degeneration screening, we use a comprehensive approach that takes about an hour. We perform macula OCT imaging, retinal photography, and visual field testing to get a complete picture of your macular health. Dr. Jason will conduct a dilated eye exam, explain your OCT results in detail, and discuss vitamin therapy if appropriate. If you’re over 50, have a family history of AMD, smoke, have high blood pressure, or have a lighter eye color, we recommend AMD screening every six months depending on your individual situation. Early detection is beneficial because once symptoms become noticeable—such as blurred central vision, difficulty reading, or seeing wavy lines—it’s helpful to have a proactive plan in place.

Understanding Cataracts and Why Early Detection Matters

Cataracts are incredibly common as we get older—they’re basically when the natural lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. The thing about cataracts is they develop so gradually that you might not realize your vision is changing until it’s become pretty noticeable. You might find yourself avoiding night driving because of glare from headlights, or maybe you’ve noticed that colors don’t look as vibrant as they used to. These can all be signs of cataracts developing.

The beauty of catching cataracts early during your comprehensive eye exams is that it gives you plenty of time to plan ahead. We use a slit-lamp to examine your eye’s lens, which lets us spot cataracts when they’re just getting started. This way, there are no surprises, and you’re in control of when and how you want to address them.

Here’s some reassuring news: having cataracts doesn’t mean you need surgery right away! In the beginning, we can often help by updating your glasses or contact lens prescription and suggesting better lighting at home. When cataracts start getting in the way of your favorite activities—whether that’s reading, working, crafting, or playing with your grandkids—that’s when we’ll sit down together and talk about your options. Modern cataract surgery is incredibly safe and successful, with quick recovery times and fantastic results. We’ll be with you every step of the way, making sure you feel comfortable and informed about your choices.

Dry Eye Syndrome: More Than Just an Irritation

Ever feel like your eyes are gritty, scratchy, or just plain uncomfortable? That’s dry eye syndrome, and it happens when your eyes aren’t getting enough lubrication—either because you’re not making enough tears or the tears you do make aren’t quite up to the job. While it might not sound like a big deal, ongoing dry eye can be quite uncomfortable and interfere with your daily routine.

What sets our approach apart at Kvitle Eye Care Associates is our commitment to advanced diagnostic technology for dry eye diagnosis. We use TearLab testing, a non-invasive procedure that analyzes the quality of your tears by measuring their osmolarity (saltiness). This sophisticated test requires only a tiny amount of tear fluid and gives us valuable data about what’s causing your dry eye symptoms—whether it’s inadequate tear production, rapid tear evaporation, or poor tear quality.

Once we understand the root cause of your dry eye, we can create a personalized treatment plan tailored specifically to you. Treatment options might include artificial tears to provide immediate relief, dry eye masks that warm and unclog your meibomian glands to improve oil production, vitamin supplementation with Vitamin A, D, B12, or Omega-3 to support healthy tears, or in some cases, punctal plugs—small devices we can place in your tear ducts to help retain moisture on the eye’s surface.

Schedule Your Comprehensive Eye Exam Today

So there you have it—five important eye conditions we can spot during comprehensive eye exams. Each one can affect how you see the world around you, but the good news is that catching them early makes a huge difference! At Kvitle Eye Care Associates, we’re all about giving you and your family the proactive, caring attention your eyes deserve.

Has it been more than a year since your last eye exam in Quincy? Or maybe you’ve never had a truly comprehensive evaluation? There’s no better time than now to schedule your visit! You don’t need to wait until something feels “off” to prioritize your eye health. As the eye doctor Quincy families trust, our friendly team led by Dr. Jason Kvitle is here to make your visit comfortable, informative, and even enjoyable. We’re proud to serve families throughout Quincy and the surrounding Illinois communities, and we can’t wait to be your partners in keeping your vision healthy and clear.

Ready to get started? Schedule your comprehensive eye exam with us today. We’re here to take great care of you and your family’s eyes!