AI can analyse retinal images for cardiovascular risk: Researchers [Video]

An international team of researchers on Friday said that by leveraging AI to analyse retinal images for cardiovascular risk assessment, they aim to bridge a crucial gap in early disease detection.

A recent position paper in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology explores the transformative potential of AI in ophthalmology. The work represents a collaboration among researchers from Penn Engineering, Penn Medicine, the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, and Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine in Korea.

With fundus photography enabling the visualization of retina at the back of the eye, the potential of AI in providing systemic disease biomarkers is becoming a reality.

When fundus images are of sufficient quantity and quality, it becomes possible to train AI systems to detect elevated HbA1c levels — an important marker for high blood sugar.

A pilot study trained AI models to predict HbA1c levels based on fundus images.

This study evaluated various factors — such …