Retina scan may provide clues to early heart disease
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- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
An eye scan that provides detailed, three-dimensional images of blood vessels in the retina may help identify people who should be screened for atherosclerosis, a new study suggests. The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells inside the back of the eyeball.
The study included 1,286 people (average age 64) without symptoms of heart disease. All underwent specialized scans to evaluate blood vessels in their hearts and their eyes. Researchers found that the density of tiny vessels near the center of the retina was closely linked to early signs of plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries.
The scans, called retinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), could be integrated with traditional heart disease risk factors to help identify people who might benefit from additional cardiovascular testing, said the authors. Their findings were published online Sept. 17, 2025, by JAMA Cardiology.
Image: © FG Trade Latin /Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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