Eye diseases (from blinding glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration to prevalent myopia and cataracts) are not merely localized visual impairments; their occurrence and development often reflect underlying systemic pathophysiological states and are closely epidemiologically associated with various major chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic diseases. These associations suggest the possible existence of shared systemic risk pathways (such as chronic low-grade inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and abnormal immune regulation) acting simultaneously on both the eye and systemic organs.
This study aims to utilize the unique resource of the UK Biobank to systematically explore the multidimensional associations, comorbidity mechanisms, and potential causal links between ocular diseases and a range of systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. We will integrate multi-omics data, including genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics, as well as high-resolution ophthalmic imaging (retinal photographs, OCT) and systemic clinical phenotypic data. Specific scientific questions include: 1) Can imaging changes in the eye (such as retinal vascular morphology and ganglion cell layer thickness) serve as non-invasive biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular events or cognitive decline? 2) Which genetic loci, circulating proteins, or metabolites are the molecular basis for comorbidity in the eye-brain-cardiovascular axis? 3) What is the causal direction behind these associations? Does the systemic disease lead to ocular complications, or do shared genetic/environmental risk factors drive the comorbidity?