A new eye scanning technology developed by Heart Eye offers the potential to detect early signs of heart disease, including the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart attacks, well before symptoms typically appear. The technology, known as Dr Noon, uses advanced retinal imaging combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze blood vessel patterns at the back of the eye and generate a personalized cardiovascular risk score.

Brian O’Keefe, a 47-year-old financial services worker in London, experienced firsthand the effectiveness of the technology after taking the scan at a pop-up clinic. Although he considered himself healthy and had previously ignored a general health check invitation, the test revealed he was at significantly elevated risk for a cardiac event within five years. Subsequent consultation with a cardiologist confirmed his cholesterol levels were dangerously high. He began treatment promptly, including statin therapy, and follow-up scans showed improvement.

The technology emerges from the field of oculomics, which studies subtle changes in retinal blood vessels as early indicators of systemic diseases. Dr Siegfried Wagner, an ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a leading researcher in this area, notes that the eyes provide a unique vantage point into the body’s smallest blood vessels and nervous system, allowing non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular health. As blood vessels adapt to various physiological stresses, AI algorithms measure minute changes—down to one-thousandth of a millimeter—linked to heart disease risk.

Recent studies spearheaded by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London have demonstrated the technology’s ability to identify atrial fibrillation up to four years before conventional diagnosis. In a large cohort study involving over 41,000 participants, the Dr Noon scan detected nearly 440 high-risk individuals missed by the UK’s standard QRISK assessment tool and also reduced unnecessary statin prescriptions by identifying low-risk individuals more accurately.

Dr Sundeep Kalra, an NHS consultant cardiologist, highlighted the technology’s clinical promise, noting that many patients exhibit no symptoms before severe cardiac events. He shared a case where Dr Noon detected heart problems missed by routine checks, preventing subsequent cardiac arrest and enabling successful treatment.

The scan, which takes around two minutes and costs between £50 and £100, is increasingly available at high street optometrists and NHS clinics across the UK, including locations in Hertfordshire and mobile units serving various communities. On September 29, coinciding with World Heart Day, many providers will offer free or reduced-cost scans.

Heart Eye’s director Dr Husain Khaki emphasized that current cardiovascular risk assessments often overlook retinal blood vessel imaging, leading to misclassification of up to 27 percent of individuals. He also cited a European Society of Cardiology study revealing that hidden arterial plaques are prevalent but rarely detected by conventional tools, underscoring the need for imaging-based screening to reduce preventable deaths.

Beyond cardiovascular disease, research suggests retinal imaging may also detect risks of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s, as well as predict cancer risk based on signs of biological ageing in the retina. While Dr Noon is currently licensed in the UK solely for cardiovascular risk assessment, plans are underway to expand screening capabilities to include retinal, kidney, and liver conditions.

Clinicians and researchers involved in oculomics point to the broader medical significance of eye examinations. Wagner recalls clinical encounters where unexplained eye symptoms led to the diagnosis of systemic diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, and autoimmune disorders.

For patients like O’Keefe, the technology’s early detection capabilities have translated into tangible health benefits. After beginning medical intervention based on his scan results, his risk score normalized and cholesterol levels improved, illustrating the potential of retinal scans to save lives through early, accessible screening.