A Peek at New Eye Science

SMART CONTACT LENSES MAY DO FAR MORE THAN CORRECT VISION.

To update an old saying, the eyes truly are the window to ... the entire body. Artificial intelligence (AI) and other new technologies now allow ophthalmologists to predict and treat diseases affecting the heart, brain, and other organs.

A new field called oculomics combines big data and eye scans to diagnose and predict heart disease. One new AI system identifies people who are likely to have a heart attack in the next year based on the pattern of tiny blood vessels in their retinas, the light-sensing layers of tissue in the back of the eyes.

“If there are reductions in the density of these blood vessels or they appear wavier, it’s usually a sign of trouble,” says Alex Frangi, scientific director of the University of Leeds Centre for Healthtech Innovation. Eventually, the technology may also predict neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.

Researchers are also developing smart contact lenses that do far more than correct vision. “Some smart contacts release medication, others may monitor important vital signs, and others still may promote wound healing,” says Janelle Davison, OD, an optometrist in Smyrna, Georgia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave the nod to the first contact lens—acuvue Theravision— that emits antihistamines to ease itchy eyes caused by allergies. Smart contacts are also being developed to monitor glucose levels in diabetics, help eyes heal faster after eye surgery or corneal abrasions, and even provide information to help improve athletic performance.