# Evolution of Oculomics: From Naked Eye Observations to Artificial Intelligence over 100 Years

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how the study of the eye as a window to systemic diseases has evolved from basic observations to advanced imaging and AI over the past century.

## Contribution

It provides a historical narrative linking early clinical insights to modern technological advancements in oculomics.

## Key findings

- The eye's role in detecting systemic diseases has been recognized for a long time in clinical practice.
- Advances in imaging and computational methods have enabled precise retinal biomarker measurements for disease detection.
- AI-based image analysis has significantly expanded the research and diagnostic potential in oculomics.

## Abstract

To provide a historical review tracing the evolution of oculomics, the study of ocular biomarkers of systemic disease, from early clinical observations to the emergence of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies over the last century.

Narrative historical review.

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A review of key historical and technological developments in ocular examination, imaging, and data analysis that have shaped the modern field of oculomics.

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The central concept underlying oculomics—the eye being a uniquely accessible site for detecting systemic disease—has long been recognized in clinical practice. Over the past century, advances in imaging and computational methods have enabled increasingly precise quantitative measurements of retinal biomarkers able to detect cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. Recent integration of AI-based image analysis has further expanded research and diagnostic potential.

Oculomics, while recently formalized as a defined field, represents the convergence of historical clinical insights with modern technological innovation. By situating current advances within a broader historical context, this review highlights the way in which the role of the eye in systemic disease detection has evolved over the last century.

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.