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HOT TOPIC

Vascular Health Indicators in Retina May Predict Stroke Risk

A new study published in the journal Heart has identified 29 vascular health indicators in the human retina that form a type of biological “fingerprint” that may strongly predict stroke risk. Mingguang He, MBBS, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author from the School of Optometry at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, explained that changes in the retinal blood vessels can detect systemic vascular conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

The study analyzed retinal images from more than 45,000 participants and found 118 measurable retinal vascular indicators, 29 of which were significantly associated with first-time stroke risk. Seventeen indicators were density-related, with changes in density linked to a 10% to 19% increase in stroke risk. Other indicators were vascular caliber, complexity, and twistedness, associated with a 10% to 19.5% increased stroke risk. This retinal vascular fingerprint, when compared with the patient’s demographic information of age and gender, was just as effective as traditional risk factors in predicting stroke risk. (Read more here.)

My Two Cents

This form of risk assessment testing is substantially less invasive than other methods of vascular testing, and it could revolutionize health care, particularly in our eye care practices. Imagine having a widefield imaging device that would provide a tremendous undilated image of the retina while also allowing you to inform patients of their risk for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. For those willing to think outside the box, this could help them further ingrain themselves in the health care system.

Many are already considering this. For example, look at National Vision’s America’s Best chain of retail stores. They’ve used “BioAge” in some of their stores for quite some time. Kudos to them for incorporating this type of technology into their offices! Check it out—I imagine this could work extremely well at clinics just like yours.

OUTSIDE THE LANE

Photographer Shares a Look at Humpback Whale’s Eye

Renowned photographer Rachel Moore captured stunning up-close photographs of a female humpback whale’s eyes near Tahiti. The image (see below), which she titled “Galaxies in Her Eyes,” reveals the giant whale’s vibrant blue gaze and shows its huge wide field of vision. Interestingly, the eye is shielded by a thick layer of blubber for protection and temperature regulation in the cold ocean. The photographer affectionately named the young whale Sweet Girl, estimating the creature’s age to be between 3 and 4 years old.

@moore_rachel

Unfortunately, just 2 days after their encounter, the whale was struck and killed by a speeding ship. Ms. Moore shared her experience with the whale on Instagram and emphasized respecting the majestic creature’s space. She also began advocating for a change in ship speed limits in areas where these whales are commonly found to help prevent tragic accidents such as the one that took Sweet Girl’s life.

My Two Cents

As an eye doctor, I am astonished by these incredible photos. They look so surreal it’s hard to imagine they’re not created by AI. It’s also hard to imagine the sorrow Ms. Moore felt upon learning the whale she had such an intimate encounter with just days earlier had passed away due to human negligence. In today’s politically charged environment, hopefully these pictures will help people on both sides of the aisle realize the importance of common-sense laws that could be created to help protect these magnificent creatures.

CAN YOU RELATE

I’ve been on a magazine kick lately. Having recently subscribed to quite a few of them, I’ve found myself engrossed in simply kicking back at the end of the day and going through them page by page. Actual page by page. There’s something so natural and relaxing when you hold the written word. Note to say that doesn’t make e-newsletters any less memorable. 😉

As an eye nerd, I can’t get enough of our trade journals and periodicals. It's always a special day when Modern Optometry, Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today, and others arrive in my mailbox. However, I’ve recently expanded my magazine subscriptions to include Time, Men’s Health, and a few others.

I want to share an article from one of the non-eye care–related publications I have read recently that has struck a chord with me. Over the years, I have found it essential to create an “exit interview” for the outgoing year and a game plan for the new year ahead. The article, “5 Questions to Ask Yourself at the Start of a New Year,” from Time’s January issue (yes, I know it’s mid-February—remember last week when I mentioned I’m often behind the times?) is meant to make you reflect on everything that happened to you in 2024, whether good, bad, strange, inspiring, or life-changing. The five questions are:

1. 1. What brought me genuine joy last year?
2. 2. What positive qualities did I notice in myself in 2024?
3. 3. How can I make peace with the problems from the previous year?
4. 4. Are my goals specific and attainable for this year?
5. 5. What would I do in 2025 if I weren’t afraid?

We are well on our way into 2025, but perhaps you could benefit from meditating on these five essential questions as I have.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It's never too late to be what you might have been.”

— George Eliot