Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Your Eyeballs Predict Your Stroke Risk


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The pattern of blood vessels at the back of your eyes, in your retinas, could be an early warning sign that your risk of stroke may be up to 20% higher than normal.  So say research ophthalmologists at Australia’s Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital working with colleagues at Harvard’s Mass.Eye and Ear Infirmary.


The eye’s retina is the only part of the body offering a direct view of your blood vessels.  Observing vascular patterns in the eyes of some 45,161 subjects followed over 12.5 years, the investigators discovered 29 indicators linked to increased stroke risk.  Significant changes in these indicators predicted an increased risk of stroke from 9.8 to 19%.


This retinal vascular analysis appears to more predictive of strokes than more conventional non-invasive methods.  With further refinement, it can only improve.


https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/01/03/heartjnl-2024-324705


#retina #stroke #screeing #noninvasive #australia #boston

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Dr. Howard Smith ReportsBy Howard G. Smith MD, AM