2 hrs ago
Eye Scans Offer Heart Risk Clues, Not Definite Diagnoses
The back of the eye has tiny blood vessels that doctors can see.
These vessels can sometimes show changes linked to high blood pressure or diabetes.
Those conditions can also raise the risk of heart disease.
However, an eye scan cannot look directly at the heart’s arteries.
A normal eye scan does not prove that the heart is healthy.
An unusual eye scan does not prove that the heart arteries are blocked either.
Computers using artificial intelligence may help find small patterns in eye images.
For now, eye scans may add information to a heart-risk check but cannot replace a doctor’s tests.
Anyone with chest discomfort, breathlessness, dizziness or similar symptoms should seek medical care.
Retinal blood vessels can reveal clues associated with hypertension, diabetes and vascular disease.
An eye scan cannot see blocked coronary arteries or replace a cardiac assessment.
Artificial intelligence may detect subtle retinal patterns linked to higher cardiovascular risk.
A normal retinal scan does not rule out heart disease, while an abnormal scan does not prove blocked arteries.
People with symptoms or risk factors should pursue medical evaluation, including blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol checks.
- Who
- Dr Sanjay Kumar, Senior Director of Cardiology at Fortis Hospital, Faridabad, explains how retinal imaging may relate to cardiovascular risk.
- What
- The article examines whether eye scans can detect heart disease and explains their potential and limitations.
- Where
- Fortis Hospital, Faridabad, is identified as Dr Sanjay Kumar’s institution; the article discusses retinal and cardiovascular assessment generally.
- When
- Why
- Researchers are studying retinal imaging as a non-invasive way to identify people who may benefit from further cardiovascular testing.
Key facts
- What retinal scans show
- They can directly display small blood vessels at the back of the eye.
- Associated conditions
- Retinal vessel changes may be associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and vascular disease.
- Blocked arteries
- A retinal scan cannot determine whether coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked.
- Role of artificial intelligence
- AI may identify subtle vascular patterns that are difficult for the human eye to detect.
- Interpretation
- An abnormal retinal finding does not automatically indicate coronary artery disease.
- Normal results
- A clear retinal scan does not rule out heart disease.
- Relevant risk factors
- Hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, family history and physical inactivity can increase cardiovascular risk.
Quotes
Dr Sanjay Kumar
Senior Director of Cardiology at Fortis Hospital, Faridabad
“The retina is one of those few instances where doctors have a direct view of small blood vessels without having to operate. Changes in the size, shape, and state of these blood vessels might, at times, be associated with certain diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and vascular disease, which are important risk factors for heart disease.”
NDTV
“Some artificial intelligence models can interpret retinal imaging data to recognise slight vascular abnormalities that cannot be spotted by the human eye. It can help to identify people who would benefit from further cardiovascular testing.”
NDTV
Sources
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