New Eye Scan May Detect Kidney Disease Early: Study

New 3D eye scans that are now available can reveal important information about kidney health and could revolutionize how kidney disease is monitored.

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Get your eyes checked for your kidney health? New 3D eye scans that are now available can reveal important information about kidney health and could revolutionize how kidney disease is monitored, new research suggests.

The study, published in Nature Communications, found that the new technology has the potential to support early kidney disease diagnosis. Current screening tests typically can’t detect kidney disease until at least half of kidney function is lost.

How It Works

It all starts with a 3D scan of the retina, which sits in the back of the eye and is responsible for sensing light and sending signals to the brain. Researchers believe that the scans offer a way to predict kidney health because of how similar the eye and kidney are in structure.