Retinal scans may detect atrial fibrillation years before diagnosis

Researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital have discovered that retinal imaging can detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AF) up to four years before a clinical diagnosis. The study, published in PLOS Digital Health, analyzed data from over 90,000 individuals across the AlzEye dataset and the UK Biobank.

Findings indicate that individuals with AF consistently exhibit thinner macular ganglion cells and a thinner inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) in the retina. This layer consists of nerve cells connecting the eye to the brain. Notably, the study found that patients who eventually developed AF showed these thinner retinal layers an average of four years before their diagnosis.

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. Because the condition can be intermittent, it is often missed by standard electrocardiograms (ECGs). This non-invasive retinal scanning method could provide an early warning system to identify at-risk patients before life-threatening complications occur.