News Report
People often say that the eyes are the window to the soul, but with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence), they could show much more. Every year, around 20 million eye tests are done in the UK. These tests are important for getting glasses, but retinal scans could also help doctors understand more about a person’s health. Scientists at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital are studying how AI can find other diseases using eye scans, creating a new field called oculomics.
Oculomics means using eye scans to learn about the rest of the body. For example, by looking at a photo of the retina (the nerve tissue at the back of the eye), AI can predict a person’s weight and blood pressure. Even more exciting, AI might detect Parkinson's disease up to seven years earlier than current methods.
Angela, who has Parkinson’s, shared her story. She felt unwell and went to a doctor, but it took years to get the right diagnosis. If this technology had been available earlier, her disease could have been found sooner. Angela said that earlier diagnosis would have helped her enjoy life more, like traveling and doing things she loves.
The eye scan process is simple. Patients look into a machine with a bright blue light, and the equipment takes detailed pictures of the retina. These scans are extremely precise, showing layers of the retina that are only one-thousandth of a millimeter thick. AI uses millions of anonymized eye scans, like those from Moorfields Eye Hospital, to compare data and improve its accuracy.
Scientists have also linked these eye scans with national health records. This means if a person has an eye test at Moorfields but later has a heart attack or stroke in another city, the data can still be connected. This allows AI to learn how eye scans might predict serious diseases like strokes, heart attacks, and lung problems.
Angela believes AI is the future. While some people worry about AI, she thinks it can help with early diagnosis and better treatment. Many others agree that AI could make a big difference in healthcare, especially for diseases like Parkinson’s, where early detection can improve lives.