A recent study conducted by researchers at The University of Manchester explored the ways that AI can detect early signs of disease through routine eye exams.
Using U.K. Biobank data, a U.K. volunteer-based study, the researchers developed an AI tool called “Ret-AAE” to explore the links between the eye and disease risk, blood test results and the appearance and function of different organs, across over 68,000 people.
Two types of scan were used in the study: optical coherence tomography (OCT) and color fundus photographs (CFP). Because these scans are widely available at optometrists across the U.K., they are a highly accessible health marker.
A Look at the Findings
The study showed that the associations between the eye and body are incredibly broad. The team identified that the appearance of the eye is linked to risk of heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attack, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and more.
The team found the two scan types may offer complementary health signals. OCTs were linked more to neurological traits and CFP to cardiovascular traits.
Further analysis showed that the eye contains several signals that are captured by AI systems and reveal information about health. This includes the appearance of blood vessels and the nerves that connect the eye to the brain.
The system detected patterns from cataracts and natural eye color differences. This suggests that analyses may need to account for age and ethnicity.
“Our findings show that the eye can reveal a remarkably broad picture of whole‑body health, offering a way to identify those at risk of heart and brain disease before they occur,” researcher Dr. Tom Julian said.
Genetic analyses linked eye features to genes involved in neurodegeneration, including pathways related to Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Physiological analyses linked eye features to blood pressure, blood vessel stiffness and the function of the heart.
Researchers found that blood molecules linked eye features with body fat molecules, suggesting the eye may reflect overall health.
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