Researchers apply AI to OCT scans and fundus photographs to learn more about systemic health

A new study by researchers at The University of Manchester has explored the link between ophthalmic imaging and an individual’s systemic health.

Writing in Nature Cardiovascular Research, scientists highlighted that the findings “reinforce the role of the eye as a composite indicator of systemic health.”

The researchers examined a broad range of health data from more than 68,000 individuals within the UK Biobank study.

They developed an artificial intelligence tool to explore the link between ophthalmic features and systemic disease risk. The tool was applied to optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans and fundus photography.

The researchers found that OCT scans were more strongly linked to neurological traits while fundus photography had broader associations with cardiovascular traits.

Lead author, Dr Tom Julian, of The University of Manchester and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, highlighted: “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.”