New Dundee research has revealed that routine eye scans could predict heart attacks and strokes ‘10 years in advance’

A routine eye scan already offered on the high street could soon become a key tool in spotting people at risk of heart attacks or strokes, thanks to new research from the University of Dundee.

Scientists found that a digital photo of the back of the eye can predict the likelihood of a major cardiovascular event within the next 10 years with 70% accuracy.

The scan, which is quick and non-invasive, is already part of many regular eye tests and could now help identify those needing medical help before symptoms even appear.

The breakthrough was made possible by artificial intelligence (AI), which analyses the images in seconds to detect signs of narrowing or damage to the blood vessels in the eye – signs which may also be present in the heart.

If a high risk is spotted, the person could be referred to their GP for checks or treatment, such as cholesterol-lowering medication or lifestyle advice.

Dr Ify Mordi, British Heart Foundation Research Fellow at the University of Dundee and consultant cardiologist, who led the study, said: “It may be surprising, but the eyes are a window to the heart. If there is damage or narrowing of the blood vessels at the back of the eye, there is a good chance that will also be seen in the blood vessels further inside the body, supplying the heart, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.”

The AI was trained on thousands of eye scans, looking for patterns and changes linked to heart disease. In a follow-up study, researchers also discovered that even small increases in risk score over time – just a 3% rise – could mean a 54% higher chance of having a heart-related event.

This new method was tested on people with diabetes, who already receive regular eye scans on the NHS. But researchers believe it could be useful for the wider population too. The AI tool performed just as well as traditional GP health checks, and when combined with genetic tests and medical records, accuracy increased to 73%.

Professor Bryan Williams OBE, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Cutting-edge innovations, like the use of retinal scans alongside health checks, could play a role in improving risk prediction, which is important if we are to reach the British Heart Foundation’s goal to prevent 125,000 heart attacks and strokes in the UK by 2035.”

The research was funded by the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and involved a team of clinical experts and computer scientists at the University of Dundee.

While more research is still needed, the team hopes that in the future, anyone attending an eye test could receive an instant update on their heart health.