Breakthrough eye scanner can detect diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s

Eyes can be windows to our overall health. Scientists are exploring new ways to use the eye as a lens to detect early signs of various diseases.

A team of researchers from Indiana University, Northwestern University, Stanford University, and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary are at the forefront of this research.

The eye can reveal clues about conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, sickle cell anemia, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

“This research is about using the eye as a window on health. We want to give health care providers the clearest view they can hope to get into the body, non-invasively,” said Stephen A. Burns, a professor at Indiana University School of Optometry.

Burns has been designated a primary investigator on a three-year, $4.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Venture Program Oculomics Initiative.

Study of eye’s interior

The researchers are developing next-generation ophthalmoscopes that can detect subtle changes in the eye that may indicate underlying health problems.

A simple eye scan using these devices could potentially identify early indicators of various health conditions.

Burns and his colleagues have been working on ophthalmoscopes to detect diseases through the eye since the early 2000s.

This technology, originally developed for astronomy, can eliminate distortions caused by the Earth’s atmosphere and the eye’s optics.

Interestingly, Burns’ lab has developed an ophthalmoscope capable of observing the back of the human eye at a very high resolution (2 microns). This allows them to see the movement of red blood cells in real time. By using this technology, Burns has identified biomarkers for diabetes and hypertension in the blood vessels of the eye.

On the other hand, researchers from Northwestern, Mount Sinai, and Stanford have used ophthalmoscope technology to observe various parts of the eye, including blood vessels and photoreceptors. This technology has allowed them to identify conditions like sickle cell anemia and improve the observation of eye cells.

AI to speed up diagnosis

The NIH is funding a project to combine different technologies and AI to develop a single device for early disease detection.

Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in analyzing the data collected from these ophthalmoscopes. AI can help process the images more efficiently and accurately, potentially speeding up diagnosis.

“There’s growing evidence of a strong retinal vascular component to Alzheimer’s disease,” Burns said. “You can currently see the signs with PET scans, which require large, multimillion-dollar instruments. If we can see the same signs with an eye scan, it’s a lot less invasive and a lot less costly.”

In the final year, the device will be tested on clinical volunteers. Eye scans could significantly help people over 60.

“The goal is to advance the technology until it is ready to make the leap from the lab to “wherever you get your annual eye exam,” he added in the press release.