Detecting heart disease through an eye exam

Optical Coherence Tomography is a way to detect heart disease in the body. In addition to cardio vascular diseases, traces of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and other health disorders can be seen.

PLX Academy · News · 05 January 2022

The latest findings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology show that heart diseases which are the number one cause of death in the world can be detected through a detailed eye examination. Traces of the disease can be seen when using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for layered recording of the retina, optic nerves and anterior part.

“Optical Coherence Tomography is an important method that can detect diseases and dysfunctions in all parts of the body, not just the eyes.”

 In addition to cardiovascular disease, traces of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and other health disorders can be seen in the eyes“, says Dr. Joseph Nezgoda, U.S. Academy of Ophthalmology spokesman.

When it comes to heart diseases, the eyes can be deprived of oxygen and blood flow, causing a stroke and the cells to die. The scar that forms is called a retinal ischemic perivascular lesion. It is very rarely present in the eyes of healthy people. The researchers used 84 medical records of heart patients and 76 records of healthy people who underwent OCT.

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