09.15.2026
Moorfields Study: Retinal Biomarkers May Signal Atrial Fibrillation Years Before Diagnosis
Retinal imaging may reveal structural biomarkers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) as early as 4 years before the condition is clinically detected, according to a large-scale study led by researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and published in PLOS Digital Health. The investigators analyzed retinal imaging data from more than 90,000 individuals across 2 datasets and identified consistent differences in retinal structure among people with AF compared with those without the heart rhythm disorder.