A vision of the future

A ROUTINE EYE TEST CAN REVEAL EARLY SIGNS OF VARIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS, INCLUDING DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. CAMILLA FOSTER LEARNS MORE

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COULD our eyes reveal more than just vision problems? A new study suggests they might hold vital clues about heart health.

The research published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, the research indicates that a scan, which forms part of a routine eye test, could help predict a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke within the next decade.

Conducted by researchers at the University of Dundee, the study used artificial intelligence to analyse digital retinal images from people with type 2 diabetes.

The tool produced personalised predictions for who would go on to have “major cardiovascular events”, such as heart attacks or strokes, within a decade with 70% accuracy.

These findings raise a compelling question: what more could our eyes reveal about our overall health?

We spoke with Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists, to find out...

How often should we get our eyes checked and why is it important?

"We advocate that everybody should get their eyes examined at least every two years," advises Dr Bilkhu. "But it can be sooner than that, depending on your optometrist's recommendations.

"Even if you don't have any eye symptoms, it's really important to get them checked.

"During an eye examination, not only can we check vision and for eye conditions, we can also check for signs of other general health conditions."

Here are some health conditions that eye tests can detect signs of...

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES