Abstract

Osteoporotic fractures often show up as the first noticeable sign of a condition that has been lurking in the shadows for a long time. While tools like DEXA scans provide reliable diagnostic benchmarks, they aren’t always easy to access or used early enough. That’s where the concept of retinal imaging comes into play and it’s actually starting to gain some attention. The retina, with its intricate network of blood vessels, might reveal early systemic changes that also impact bone health. Some studies indicate that changes in the retinal icrovasculature like decreased vessel density or increased tortuosity could be linked to low bone mineral density. It’s not conclusive just yet, but it’s definitely intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. Technologies like OCTA and traditional fundus photography, when combined with artificial intelligence, present themselves quite literally into possible early signs of osteoporosis. Could a simple eye exam someday flag patients at risk before a fracture occurs? Possibly. It seems plausible that such interdisciplinary tools could be folded into primary care or orthopaedic settings. But then again, there are barriers: access, cost, standardisation, and the need for more research. Still, the potential is there. By merging retinal imaging with systemic risk assessment, clinicians might just gain an edge in catching bone deterioration before it manifests catastrophically. It’s an exciting frontier not without its flaws, but worth pursuing.

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Funding