3D eye scans reveal kidney health

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, December 7 (Reporter Liu Xia) A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the UK shows that 3D eye scans can reveal the health of the kidneys. Since kidney disease usually has no symptoms in the early stages, this achievement is expected to completely change the monitoring of kidney disease and enable doctors to detect kidney disease earlier. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of Nature Communications.

The eye is the only part of the body where a critical process called "microvascular circulation" can be observed, and this blood flow through the body's tiniest blood vessels is often affected by kidney disease. In this study, scientists used 3D images of the retina taken with optical coherence tomography (OCT) to monitor changes in the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that senses light and sends signals to the brain. The results showed that these images can be used as a quick, non-invasive way to monitor kidney health.

The study looked at OCT images of 204 patients with various kidney diseases and 86 healthy volunteers and showed that patients with chronic kidney disease had thinner retinas compared to healthy volunteers. Retinal thinning develops as kidney function declines, and patients who receive kidney transplants experience rapid thickening of the retina after surgery, as these changes are also reversed when kidney function is restored.

The researchers say that one day, regular eye exams may be used to monitor and detect kidney disease early, preventing the disease from getting worse, and could also prompt patients to change their lifestyles to reduce the risk of complications. However, further research is needed before this technology can be used routinely, including long-term clinical trials in larger patient groups.