A simple eye check can help assess the risk of stroke, say researchers from the United States.

The test is a snapshot of the retina - a photosensitive layer of cells in the back of the eyeball that can be damaged by high blood pressure.

Studies show that those who suffer from this phenomenon - a condition known as hypertensive retinopathy - have an increased risk of developing a stroke.

In a study published in the journal Hypertension, experts studied retinal images of 2907 people with high blood pressure who did not previously have a stroke.

Then they were under observation for an average of 13 years, during which time 146 people in the study suffered a stroke.

The researchers found that the risk of stroke was 35 percent higher in those with mild hypertensive retinopathy 137 percent higher than patients with moderate or severe hypertensive retinopathy, even after adjusting for other risk factors for stroke such as age, body mass index, smoking and blood pressure.

Even among patients on drugs and with good control of blood pressure, the risk of a thrombus was 96 percent higher in those with mild hypertensive retinopathy and 198 percent higher in people with moderate or severe hypertensive retinopathy.

According to the US Stroke Association, one of the main problems with stroke is its suddenness - it is usually difficult to predict.

High blood pressure is the number one risk factor, but practice shows that many people do not have any symptoms before a stroke.

Therefore, a new way to diagnose the pre-sultural state will be very useful and will save lives.

Source: News Yu.

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