Simple new eye test ‘could help to prevent stroke’

A simple eye test that could be performed during routine exams could prove useful in the prevention of stroke in future, according to researchers.

Scientists from the University of Zurich have found that ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) techniques can be used to reliably detect carotid artery stenosis (CAS), a condition that blocks the arteries feeding the front part of the brain.

This is known to be a risk factor for stroke, but the condition has no symptoms and currently has no effective testing method, meaning it often goes undetected.

However, the Zurich study found that assessing the difference between the pressure levels that occur inside the eye during the two phases of the heartbeat can remedy this, as those with a reduced difference between these levels are more likely to have CAS.

Lead researcher Dr Pascal Bruno Knecht said: "We recommend further study to confirm the value of using OPA to detect and assess the severity of CAS and to define its use in stroke prevention."

NHS data reveals that stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK, as well as being the leading cause of adult disability due to the brain damage resulting from the condition.