Pfizer Australia's three-year collaborative partnership is funding research in advanced stages that proves eyes show early signs of heart disease.

It is work headed by Associate Professor Tien Wong at the Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre (RetVIC) at the Centre for Eye Research Australia.

One day a simple visit to the ophthalmologist or optometrist could provide you with routine screening for life threatening cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

RetVIC is a collaboration between several teams including Pfizer Australia. The group, managed by the Centre for Eye Research Australia, is located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and will work towards developing special retinal software that can analyse images of the eye and show predictors of cardiovascular disease including stroke, hypertension and heart failure.

"It is an ambitious goal but our ultimate aim is to develop a web-based imaging system from which optometrists and ophthalmologists can upload images which will then be assessed for retinal markers of future cardiovascular disease,'' Associate professor Tien Wong said.

"We hope the treating specialist will then be able to determine someone's likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease by looking at the images so that appropriate intervention may take place."

Development of this retinal imaging system follows on from Associate Professor Wong's research which is the first in the world to categorically demonstrate that subtle damage to blood vessels in the retina can predict cardiovascular disease.

"The idea that the eye is a window to the human body and can predict other areas of human health has been around for more than a century,'' he said.

"But our team has demonstrated this prediction in precise and quantitative terms, w
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Contact: Romy Johnston
61-399-298-425
Research Australia
23-Jan-2006