Approved Research
Understanding the relationships between eye features and systematic diseases
Lay summary
The eye is not only a complex organ responsible for vision but also a potential window into overall health. Over the years, researchers have increasingly recognized the intimate connections between ocular characteristics and systemic diseases. This intersection has opened up new avenues for early disease detection, monitoring, and understanding underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
A growing body of evidence suggests that alterations in eye features, such as the retina, cornea, and lens, can be indicative of various systemic health conditions. For instance, changes in retinal blood vessels could provide insights into cardiovascular health, and abnormalities in the eye's structure may signal neurological disorders. By delving into these relationships, researchers can contribute to early disease detection, innovative treatments, and a more holistic understanding of the human body's intricacies. This project aims to bridge the gap between ophthalmology and general medicine, ultimately leading to enhanced patient care and overall well-being.
This project wants to explore the relationships between eye features, such as visual acuity and retinal images, and the development of systematic disease. Aims: 1) find the association between eye features or diseases and systematic diseases, especially with age-related disease; 2) developing the model for prediction of age-related disease with machine learning based on retinal and brain images; 3) developing the artificial intelligence prediction model of age-related disease with multiple source data such as genomics, eye features, life-style information, and environmental risk factors.
The project's findings can lead to earlier detection and improved management of not only eye diseases, but also systematic diseases, especially age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders, which can reduce disease prevalence and burden, and improve quality of life through timely interventions and better disease management.
Project duration: 36 months