News and Updates

Updates and the latest news from the SCONe project

Early detection of glaucoma in primary care using artificial intelligence aided analysis of retinal images

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and the second most common cause of severe sight loss in the UK. Glaucoma increases risk of falling and reduces ability to drive, work, and live independently. As vision lost from glaucoma cannot be restored, early detection is crucial, but sadly more than half of people living with glaucoma remain undiagnosed. This research aims to determine whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve glaucoma detection by analysing photographs of the retina taken at high street opticians.  

We are grateful to Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office for funding this branch of our research, which makes use of the existing SCONe repository of retinal images in the National Safe Haven. The SCONe retinal images come from primary care and include photographs from the same individuals over time, providing the ideal setting to test whether AI can identify people in the general population who are at-risk of developing glaucoma. 

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NeurEYE: monitoring brain health through the lens of a retinal image

SCONe data scientists and clinical researchers are working to develop a digital tool that can predict a person’s risk of dementia from a routine eye test. This is the NeurEYE project, funded through a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, the medical research charity LifeArc, pharmaceutical company Eisai, Gates Ventures, and the national health data science institute Health Data Research UK. 

The aim is to develop software to predict conditions such as Alzheimer’s, as a triage tool for optometrists to refer patients to secondary health services if signs of brain disease are spotted, and potentially as a way to monitor cognitive decline. 

Identifying people at risk of dementia could accelerate the development of new treatments by identifying those who are more likely to benefit from trials and enabling better monitoring of treatment responses. 

Being aware of your risk of dementia could also help you modify the risk through lifestyle changes such as physical activity and diet. The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care has identified that nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors, including vision loss.   

You can find out more about the launch of the NeurEYE project on the BBC news website and from the NerEYE Youtube video by Andrew Perry, both linked below.

Professor Baljean Dhillon with model eye
Professor Baljean Dhillon, SCONe Chief Investigator and NeurEYE co-lead

ARVO Annual Meeting

The SCONe team and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh will be presenting their work at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual meeting in Salt Lake City on the 4th-8th of May 2025, including:

  • Retinal Feature Changes Over Time in AMD, Glaucoma, and Controls
    Conference: Imaging of the Eye
    Session: Retina
    Date: 03/05/2025
  •  Fundus refraction Offset: A novel individualised biomarker for myopia
    Poster session: 248 (Myopia: Structural and Functional Changes)
    Posterboard number: 2158 - A0338
    Date: 05/05/2025
  • Prediction of Optical Coherence Tomography Retinal Layer Thickness from Colour Fundus Photography in the UK Biobank
    Conference: Imaging of the Eye
    Posterboard number: PB0096
    Date: 03/05/2025
  • SCONe: Developing a Public Involvement and Engagement Strategy within Big Data
    Poster Session: 368 (Electronic Health Record and Big Data Sciences)
    Posterboard Number :3960 - B0497
    Date: 06/05/2025
ARVO 2025 Annual Meeting logo

Edinburgh Science Festival: Eye, Eye Doctor!

We had a great time at the Edinburgh Science Festival on the 16th of April hosting our workshop Eye, Eye Doctor! 

SCONe team members and colleagues from The University of Edinburgh hosted a fun and informative workshop for children aged 8+ focused on understanding the eye as a window to our health. Through our activities, we talked about the role of an optometrist, retinal images and the importance of regular eye checks.

We invited the children to become an Optometrist for the day and they spotted the differences between images of a healthy retina and a range of diseased retinas. They were also able to take a retinal image themselves using a portable fundus camera, the epiCam, and a model head which were available thanks to Epipole. 

Sight loss simulation glasses representing different types of sight loss were available thanks to Optometry Scotland. The children were able to put these on and discuss what things in their life might be different or harder with sight loss. 

This event was led by Ana Paula Rubio, our Patient and Public Involvement & Engagement (PPI&E) lead. To find out more about our PPI&E work please see our web page linked below. 

Retinal imaging technology being shown to children at the eye eye doctor event at Edinburgh Science Festival.
Members of the public learning about retinal images at the Eye Eye doctor Edinburgh Science Festival Event

Data Conversations: What Do We Really Mean by Data?

We’re beginning recruitment for a project funded by Research Data Scotland on Data Conversations. The project team seek to create age-appropriate, participant-driven resources that raise public awareness of the value of retinal images as data in healthcare research. The term ‘data’ covers a wide range of information, which can make it challenging for the public to engage in discussions about data research. Using the SCONe project as an example, the team will work with the public to break down complex ideas into tangible examples. Working with participants, they will explore the implications of using – or not using – health data in research around disease prevention, care and early detection. The final workshop will take place on the 3rd of August in Aberdeen. Together, they will develop recommendations that can be used by SCONe as the foundation of materials that will enhance public awareness of the value of retinal images in healthcare research.

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Eye Care Accessibility and AMD

Thanks to funding from NHS Lothian Charity, the SCONe team is launching a new project focused on raising awareness of eye health and particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This project aims to support people in understanding why regular eye tests matter, not just for vision, but for overall health, and to encourage habits that help protect eyesight as we age. AMD is one of the leading causes of vision loss in Scotland, and with an ageing population, it’s affecting more people than ever. Yet, awareness of AMD and the role of eye tests in early detection and management remains low. That’s why this project, led by SCONe and its Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team, will explore what’s missing in current health messaging and develop a new, more effective strategy to fill those gaps.

By highlighting the importance of both regular eye exams and AMD prevention, the project hopes to empower people to take charge of their eye health and make informed choices. Eye health often gets overlooked in public health campaigns and we’re here to change that.

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