Oculomics
Discover a new perspective on your health with AI-powered retinal analysis.
Your eyes can tell us much more than how well you see.
At Artingstall Opticians, our new Oculomics assessment combines advanced eye examinations with artificial intelligence (AI) to explore information hidden within the retina.
Alongside a detailed assessment of your eye health, this innovative technology can provide additional insights into your biological age and potential cardiovascular risk.
A closer look at your eyes. A broader understanding of your health.
Advanced retinal imaging | AI-powered health insights | Approx. 60 minutes | £200
What is Oculomics?
Oculomics is an emerging field of healthcare that uses advanced retinal imaging and AI to explore connections between the eyes and wider health.
The retina, at the back of your eye, contains a network of tiny blood vessels and other structures that can provide valuable information about your body.
AI can analyse subtle patterns within these images that may be too complex for the human eye to recognise.
This means retinal photography has the potential to reveal information extending beyond traditional eye health assessments.
What could your eyes reveal about your health?
Our Oculomics assessment brings together two innovative AI-powered insights.
01
Your biological age
BioAge uses retinal images to estimate biological age based on patterns associated with ageing.
Unlike your chronological age, which simply counts the years since you were born, biological age is an estimate of how your body may be ageing.
This provides an additional perspective on your health, although it is not a definitive measure of your overall biological age.
02
Your cardiovascular risk
The tiny blood vessels in your retina may reflect changes associated with your wider cardiovascular system.
Using AI-powered retinal analysis, we can provide an additional estimate of cardiovascular risk, including potential risk over the next ten years. These insights may help identify when further discussion or assessment with your GP would be beneficial.
How can AI see what we can't?
The surprising science behind Oculomics
One of the most fascinating discoveries in retinal AI research is that a computer can identify patterns that even experienced clinicians would not ordinarily recognise.
In a landmark study, researchers trained an AI system to analyse retinal photographs. Remarkably, it could predict a person's biological sex with approximately 97% discrimination performance (AUC 0.97).
The significance wasn't the prediction itself. It was that the AI had identified patterns in the retina that clinicians had not previously recognised as informative.
If AI can uncover something so unexpected from a photograph of the eye, what else might our retinas reveal?
Researchers are now exploring these connections to better understand cardiovascular health, ageing and other potential indicators of disease.
Oculomics brings some of these developments into a new generation of eye assessments.
Why choose an Oculomics assessment?
More than an eye examination.
A conventional eye examination focuses on your vision and the health of your eyes.
Oculomics adds another dimension, using AI to explore patterns in your retinal images that may be associated with wider health.
It's an opportunity to gain additional insights, understand your results with professional guidance and consider whether any further healthcare assessment may be appropriate.
AI doesn't replace the expertise of your optometrist. It complements it.
Frequently asked questions
-
No. Oculomics combines a comprehensive eye health assessment with advanced imaging and AI-derived insights into biological age and cardiovascular risk.
-
No. It provides an estimate of cardiovascular risk, rather than diagnosing heart disease. Your results may indicate that further assessment with your GP or another healthcare professional would be appropriate.
-
Retinal photography and OCT scanning are non-invasive. Your appointment may involve dilating eye drops, which can temporarily blur your vision and increase sensitivity to light.
-
Suitability depends on your age, medical history and the eligibility criteria for the AI assessments. Our team can advise whether Oculomics is appropriate for you before booking.
-
The comprehensive Oculomics assessment is expected to cost approximately £200 and take around one hour. Please contact the practice to confirm the current price and availability.
