Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, December 7th (Reporter Liu Xia) - A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the UK has shown that 3D eye scans can reveal the health status of the kidneys. Due to the fact that kidney disease usually has no symptoms in the early stages, this achievement is expected to completely change the monitoring of kidney disease, allowing doctors to detect kidney disease earlier. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications. The eyes are the only part of the human body where the key process of microvascular circulation can be observed, and this blood flow through the body's smallest blood vessels is often affected by kidney disease. In this study, scientists used optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to capture 3D images of the retina to monitor changes. The retina is the tissue layer in the back of the eye that perceives light and sends signals to the brain. It was found that these images can serve as a fast and non-invasive method for monitoring kidney health. The study observed OCT images of 204 patients with different kidney diseases and 86 healthy volunteers, and the results showed that compared to healthy volunteers, the retina of patients with chronic kidney disease was thinner. Retinal thinning develops with the decline of renal function, and patients receiving kidney transplantation experience rapid retinal thickening after surgery, as these changes are reversed when renal function is restored. Researchers suggest that one day, regular eye examinations may be used to monitor and detect kidney disease early, prevent further deterioration of the disease, and encourage patients to change their lifestyle, reducing the risk of complications. However, further research is needed before the conventional use of this technology, including long-term clinical trials in larger patient populations. (Lai Xin She)