Scientists have developed a new method of diagnosing diabetes and high blood pressure that involves shining light into a patient's eyes.
Researchers say the procedure has the potential to enable earlier intervention and more effective medical treatment, and could also be used to detect other heart-related diseases.
It uses polarised light to measure changes in the thickness of the blood vessel walls in the patient's retinas, with the results available almost immediately.
Optical physicist Barry Cense said the process takes a few seconds per eye and uses a device similar to the optical scanners often found in eye clinics.
"This pioneering research not only enables speedy and straightforward identification of diabetes and hypertension but also holds potential for earlier and more effective treatments," Professor Cense said.
"By harnessing the power of polarised light, this research deepens our understanding of these widespread health conditions, ultimately benefiting those affected."
Diabetes and hypertension each cause different and distinctive alterations to blood vessel walls and both can be detected by using polarised light to directly assess the health of the walls.
This innovative approach is simpler than traditional diabetes tests that require fasting and blood samples, and common hypertension detection methods such as blood pressure monitors.
Optical and biomedical engineer Hadi Afsharan said the method could also be used to diagnose heart-related diseases like coronary artery disease.
"Instead of uncomfortable and radiation-intensive methods, we are exploring a new painless and safe approach, making regular check-ups hassle-free," he said.
"In the future, using polarised light for heart problem diagnosis could revolutionise how we detect and treat conditions like coronary artery disease, offering more effective and patient-friendly screening and treatment options."
Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by high levels of glucose in the blood.
High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for chronic conditions including stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
The study was a collaboration between The University of Western Australia and Yonsei University in South Korea.
Its findings were published online via MDPI scientific journals.
