January 17 2025

Eye Health May Reveal Stroke Risk Through Vascular Changes, Study Finds

Changes in the eyes can signal a variety of health issues, including conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. A recent study has discovered a set of 29 vascular health indicators found on the retina that could serve as a unique "fingerprint" to help predict a person’s risk of having a stroke. This method offers a less invasive alternative to traditional stroke risk tests.

Doctors have long recognized that the eyes provide valuable insights into a person's overall health, with the retina being one of the few areas where blood vessels can be examined directly without the need for invasive procedures. According to Mingguang He, MD, PhD, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and lead author of the study, changes in retinal blood vessels can indicate underlying systemic vascular conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Now, this new research suggests these changes could also help identify stroke risk.