Blood test found that detects eye disease

Local experts have discovered an accurate method of diagnosing an eye disease — diabetic retinopathy — through a blood test than the current method of examining the back of the eye.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common form of diabetic eye disease. The incidence of diabetes is 12.8 percent in China and diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss and blindness for middle-aged and elderly people.

Early detection and early intervention are important. But the major screening technology is eye imaging, which depends on expensive equipment and the judgment of ophthalmologists. 

Dr Liu Wei, director of Renji Hospital’s endocrinology department, said: “It is important to develop a simple, effective and economic technology for diabetic retinopathy screening.”

The hospital’s Dr Ma Jing teamed up with Professor Qian Kun from Shanghai Jiao Tong University to conduct research and found that the disease could be detected by testing the blood.

Their research has been published in world leading journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Studies found that new method is effective for 90 percent of diabetic retinopathy cases and can identify the seriousness of the condition, offering a credible, efficient and easy way to screen patients with the problem.