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Eye exams can help identify people susceptible to stroke
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A simple eye test could be an effective way to identify patients who are at high risk of stroke, according to scientists from the University of Zurich (Switzerland).
Researchers have shown that a test called ocular impulse amplitude (OIA) can successfully detect carotid artery stenosis (CAS), a condition in which the arteries that feed the front of the brain become blocked. It is a known risk factor for stroke. OIA can be performed by ophthalmologists during a routine examination.
Each year, nearly 795,000 Americans experience a first or recurrent stroke, and more than 137,000 die as a result. The terrible disease most often affects people with severe narrowing of the carotid artery. Doctors would like to diagnose and treat this disorder before it occurs, but CSA has no symptoms and therefore often remains undetected.
Swiss scientists used a dynamic contour tonometer to test the amplitude of the ocular impulse in 67 patients suspected of having CSA. The AGI was calculated by detecting the difference between two pressure levels inside the eye during two phases of the heartbeat – systolic and diastolic. When blood flow to the eye is blocked due to a narrowed artery, the difference between the two pressure levels is small, so the AGI is low. The study confirmed that patients with the lowest AGI also had the most blocked carotid arteries. To check the arteries, the subjects underwent ultrasound examination.
Higher-tech tests such as magnetic resonance angiography and color duplex ultrasound can also detect narrowing of the artery, but they are expensive and not widely available. They are primarily used to diagnose CSA in patients who already have stroke symptoms. As for the AGI, it can be performed during a routine eye exam if the ophthalmologist already uses a dynamic contour tonometer to screen for glaucoma.
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