Signs of atrial fibrillation can be seen in retinal scans four years before diagnosis, a new study has found.
Researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom analysed retinal imaging data from more than 90,000 people and discovered differences in the structure of the retina in people with atrial fibrillation, compared with those who do not have the condition.1
Atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder, substantially raises the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death.
Because atrial fibrillation often occurs intermittently, it can be missed on a standard electrocardiogram (ECG). As a consequence, many cases remain undiagnosed until a serious or life-threatening complication occurs.
Although not intended to replace ECG-based diagnosis, retinal imaging could act as a complementary tool, catching those most at risk of atrial fibrillation before it causes real harm
The team found people with atrial fibrillation consistently had thinner macular ganglion cells and inner plexiform layer, a retinal layer at the back of the eye. The thinner this particular layer was, the more likely the person was to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Senior author Dr Siegfried Wagner said the value of this kind of eye imaging is that it is easy to access, quick, and doesn’t involve any invasive procedures.2
“Although not intended to replace ECG-based diagnosis, retinal imaging could act as a complementary tool, catching those most at risk of atrial fibrillation before it causes real harm,” he said.
References
- Huemer J, Stuart KV, Wagner SK, et al. Atrial fibrillation and retinal imaging-based oculomics: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of two large cohorts. PLOS Digit Health 2026; 5(9):e0001661. doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001661.
- UCL News, Atrial fibrillation detected from eye scans four years before diagnosis, 15 Sept 2026. Available at: ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/sep/atrial-fibrillation-detected-eye-scans-four-years-diagnosis [accessed Sept 2026].
