Home / Health / AI Sees Future Health in Your Eyes
AI Sees Future Health in Your Eyes
6 Nov
Summary
- AI analyzes routine eye scans for early illness signs.
- Sunderland University's NORI hub received £12.2m for the project.
- The technology aims to diagnose heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Routine eye scans will soon incorporate artificial intelligence to identify early indicators of major health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. The Northern Ophthalmic Research and Innovation (NORI) hub at Sunderland University has been awarded £12.2m by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to advance this diagnostic technology.
The project aims to accelerate patient diagnoses by leveraging AI to analyze the intricate blood vessels and nerve tissue at the back of the eye. These features can reveal crucial health clues before overt symptoms manifest. While initially focusing on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the technology's scope is expected to expand to include dementia and strokes.
Science minister Chris McDonald emphasized the importance of early diagnosis for improved patient outcomes and reduced pressure on the NHS, highlighting technology's vital role. NORI's interim pro vice-chancellor, Matthew Campbell, stated that this investment fosters a new health innovation ecosystem in the North East, enabling the development and global market entry of these cutting-edge diagnostic tools.
