Alliance Says ‘Oculomics’ Can Transform Disease Detection

A coalition of healthcare leaders has announced the launch of the Alliance for Healthcare from the Eye (AHE) at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Salt Lake City this week. 

AHE is a cross-sector initiative to harness the eye as a gateway to both ocular and systemic health through artificial intelligence (AI) – a field known as oculomics. The consortium of health systems, clinicians, industry innovators, life science companies, policymakers, and payers say they aim to drive a shift from reactive to proactive healthcare by leveraging ocular data.

“The eye offers a non-invasive, high-resolution window into the body’s vascular, neurologic, and metabolic systems. With advanced ophthalmic diagnostics, AI can help identify early indicators of heart disease, kidney dysfunction, neurodegeneration and other systemic diseases—before symptoms arise,” said Robert N. Weinreb, M.D., distinguished professor and chair, ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, in a statement. 

AHE members are already leveraging Healthcare from the Eye, which integrates AI-powered analysis of ocular data—such as retinal images and visual function tests—into coordinated care networks of eye care, primary care, and specialty providers. By embedding this approach into existing workflows, AHE members aim to identify high-risk individuals early, enhance access to care, enable risk stratification and triage to reduce late-stage disease burden, and shift cost structures toward preventive services. Patient data will be secured and managed to ensure transparency and patient privacy, the coalition said. 

A foundational manuscript co-authored by several AHE members and published in JAMA Ophthalmology on May 8 outlines the vision and foundational principles of Healthcare from the Eye. The paper highlights how AI-powered ocular pre-screening can support earlier detection, expand access, and reduce healthcare costs, enabling a more efficient and accessible model of care through cross-sector collaboration and existing clinical infrastructure.

“As a primary care physician for 30 years, I know how difficult it is to meet every patient’s needs,” said Matt Rosenberg, M.D., founding managing partner at Mid Michigan Health Centers, in a statement. “We began using AI-powered diabetic retinal screening as part of the Healthcare from the Eye initiative over a year ago. Since then, screening rates have doubled, and we’re on track to reach 90% compliance. It’s fast, accurate, and doesn’t require a clinician. What started with diabetic eye disease is now opening the door to more proactive, whole-person care.”

 “Healthcare from the Eye is shaping a new paradigm for the future of ocular and systemic disease screening, driven by the integration of ophthalmic imaging with artificial intelligence,” said Ann Ostrovsky, M.D., chief of ophthalmology services at ECU Health and professor of ophthalmology at East Carolina University, in a statement. “Especially for rural and underserved regions, like eastern North Carolina, this initiative will translate into expanded access to eye care, enhance screening for both ocular and systemic diseases, and help eye care providers serve more patients.”