Image used for reference only
Al Ahli Hospital recently has introduced a software programme to evaluate the health status of an individual for the first time in the Middle East and the Gulf countries. The application has been obtained from VITO, the Belgian Research Center in Europe.
The IFLEXIS software program analyzes the pattern of blood vessels in the retina to evaluate the health status of an individual. A digital image of the retina can be captured using the technique of retinal imaging and enables visualization of the smallest blood vessels of the body in an easy way. These retinal blood vessels are indicators for changes that occur in the rest of the body. The reading of the image using IFLEXIS software is based on monitoring quantitative changes in vessel thickness and blood vessel patterns, which are the indicators used to predict early onset or development of a disease.
Therefore, retinal image analysis can be used to assess the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and stroke, and in the future possibly also Alzheimer’s disease, and to monitor the evolution of these diseases.
Retina image
Dr. Hynd Mebarki, the Associate Consultant in Ophthalmology at Al Ahli Hospital, said, “The eye is the window of the body, it reflects many diseases that may catch humans.” Some of these diseases may be eye diseases, but also cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, thyroid, autoimmune, cancer, even HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
Doctors advise to start an eye examination at the age of 40 as part of the routine checkup heath screening test. However, those who have a family history of eye diseases should have an eye examination before the age of 40, also anyone who suffers from any type of eye diseases. It should be noted that some eye diseases are not symptomatic; so it is advised to go for an ophthalmological examination before symptoms appear and before the age of forty.
Dr. Hynd also advises everyone to take the annual periodic examination and early examination of the retinal blood vessels for early detection in the event of any symptoms to avoid any complications or development of infections.
Changes in retinal blood vessels can be used as a marker for cardiovascular disease. The accumulation of cholesterol, one of the major cardiovascular risk factors, in the wall of the arteries can narrow block larger vessels, leading to atherosclerosis and vascular diseases in different organs such as heart and kidney. The effect of atherosclerosis and inflammation also affects the blood vessels in the eyes, and may lead to eye problems.
Retinal blood vessels changes are considered early indicators of cardiovascular risk. One can diagnose all of these changes during the ophthalmic eye examination.
