Mayo Clinic Radio: Eyes Predict Your Health

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The eyes are the window to the soul ...” But your eyes also may be a window to your overall health. Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol all can be detected during an eye exam when an ophthalmologist examines the blood vessels and nerves in the retina, or back of the eye. Now there is evidence that changes in the eyes\' blood vessels also may predict future brain health. A recent study, published in Neurology, shows small changes in the blood vessels within the eyes at age 60 also may help predict memory loss over the next two decades.