October 30, 2026 — 5:00am

Our eyes are the windows to our soul. They may also be the windows to our heart.

Researchers believe routine eye exams may soon be able to detect and predict systemic disease, including the risk of a heart attack and the presence of atrial fibrillation (an irregular, fast heartbeat).

This exam would provide a non-invasive alternative to other tests, make screening easier for those in rural areas and allow people to take action before they experience harm.

Ophthalmologist Dr Tanya Trinh can find out a lot about a person’s heart health from their eyes. Sam Mooy

“As a cardiologist, I see too many people whose first sign of heart disease is a heart attack,” says Dr Girish Dwivedi, a professor of cardiology at The University of Western Australia (UWA).

“We want to catch heart disease early, while there is still time to act. The eye gives us that chance.…