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ASIMPLE eye test could save your life! Researchers have discovered scans of the retina can spot signs of poor blood flow to the eye — an indicator of the early signs of heart disease.
“The eyes are the window into our health and many diseases can manifest there. Cardiovascular disease is no exception,” said Dr. Matthieu Bakhoum, a retinal surgeon at UC San Diego Health, where the study was conducted. “Ischemia — decreased blood flow caused by heart disease — can lead to inadequate blood flow to the eye and may cause cells in the retina to die, leaving permanent marks we termed RIPLs — retinal ischemic perivascular lesions.” Seeking to determine if this finding could serve as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease, the researchers examined the records of almost 14,000 patients who received a retinal scan between 2014 and 2019. After identifying 84 people who had heart disease and 74 without, who served as the study’s control group, the researchers found more RIPLs in the eyes of those with heart disease. They believe the findings offer a new way of assessing patients’ risk of developing the disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., killing almost 660,000 annually. The noninvasive scan is already a recommended part of routine tests by an optician to diagnose conditions such as glaucoma.
The university’s health clinic already considers referring patients to a cardiologist if ischemia is identified during a scan. “It’s my hope the presence of RIPLs in the eye will be … used to start heart disease preventive measures,” said study cardiologist Dr. Anthony DeMaria.