Utilising Retinal Phenotypes to Predict Cerebrovascular Disease and Detect Related Risk Factors in Multi-Ethnic Populations: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs) are a major cause of mortality and disability, with significant ethnic variations suggesting specific risk factors. Early detection of these risk factors is critical, and retinal imaging offers a non-invasive method to achieve this.

Summary: Retinal phenotypes can serve as early markers for CBVDs. Racial differences in retinal and vascular morphometric characteristics have been described. Examining these characteristics in the context of racial differences could improve early detection and targeted interventions for CBVDs. This review discusses the role of retinal imaging in predicting CBVDs and highlights the importance of ethnicity-specific approaches.

Key messages: Understanding ethnic variations in retinal features can enhance the precision of CBVD prediction and enable personalised treatment strategies.

Keywords: Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebrovascular disease prediction; Cerebrovascular risk detection; Ethnicity; Retinal phenotypes; Retinal scans.