Unrecognized Cardiac Disease Marker

Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits: A New Window into Heart Health?

could your eyes be offering a sneak peek into your heart’s health? New research suggests that subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs), visible during a routine eye exam, may be an early warning sign of serious, undiagnosed heart disease. This groundbreaking discovery, presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 annual meeting in Salt Lake City on May 4-8, highlights the critical connection between ophthalmology and cardiology, potentially revolutionizing how we approach preventative care. These findings are especially significant for underserved populations and women, who often experience disparities in cardiac care.

The Eye-Heart Connection: Understanding sdds

Subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) are distinct from regular drusen, which are yellow deposits under the retina. The key differences lie in their location, genetic risk factors, and cholesterol composition. Unlike drusen, which reside below the retinal pigment epithelium, SDDs are found above it. Genetically, SDDs are linked to the ARMS2 gene, while drusen are associated with mutations in the CFH gene. Both types of lesions can progress to late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but SDDs tend to accelerate this process.

Did You Know? Recent studies indicate that individuals with SDDs are nearly twice as likely to have undiagnosed cardiovascular issues compared to those without these retinal deposits.

Researchers theorize that compromised choroidal blood flow, resulting from high-risk vascular diseases, leads to hypoxic damage to photoreceptors, later causing SDDs.Conditions like cardiac disease and carotid artery disease reduce blood flow to the entire body and the ipsilateral eye, respectively, triggering the formation of these deposits.

Mount Sinai’s Cardiac Arrhythmia Study: Key Findings

A study at Mount Sinai assessed 107 cardiac patients with no prior retinal diagnoses for arrhythmias and the presence of SDDs. The analysis considered various factors, including age, sex, blood pressure, diabetes, lipid levels, and electrocardiography findings. The primary risk variables studied were cardiac output, cardiac index, and the type and severity of arrhythmias.

The study revealed that 48.4% of patients with long-term arrhythmias had SDDs, compared to only 31.3% of patients without arrhythmias (p = 0.01527).specifically, among 21 patients with atrial fibrillation, 52.4% exhibited SDDs. These findings underscore a significant correlation between cardiac arrhythmias and the presence of SDDs.

Pro Tip: Encourage patients undergoing routine eye exams, especially those with risk factors for heart disease, to discuss SDDs with their ophthalmologist. Early detection can lead to timely cardiovascular evaluations and interventions.

Interestingly, patients whose arrhythmias were resolved through interventions like pacemakers or ablation showed a significantly lower prevalence of SDDs (11.1%). This highlights that restoring proper circulation to the eye can have a therapeutic effect on SDD-related AMD.

Clinical Implications and Future directions

The key takeaway for ophthalmologists is to be vigilant about detecting SDDs during routine optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal imaging. Identifying these deposits can prompt referrals for cardiovascular testing, potentially leading to the early diagnosis and prevention of adverse cardiovascular events.Conversely, patients with high-risk vascular disease shoudl be screened by an ophthalmologist to preserve their vision.

The research emphasizes that cardiac diseases impair blood flow to the eyes, and arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation are significantly associated with SDDs.By decreasing cardiac output and causing inadequate ocular perfusion, these conditions create an surroundings conducive to SDD formation. Thus, SDDs may serve as a critical marker for underlying heart issues, especially in underserved communities and women.

This interdisciplinary approach,combining ophthalmology and cardiology,promises to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of both cardiovascular and retinal diseases.Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms linking SDDs and heart health.

Current Data on Cardiovascular and Retinal Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),about 697,000 people in the United states died from heart disease in 2020—that’s 1 of every 5 deaths. Similarly, the National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects approximately 1.8 million people in the U.S., with the number expected to increase to 2.95 million by 2040. This data underscores the importance of early detection and integrated treatment strategies for both cardiovascular and retinal diseases.

The Significance of Arrhythmia Resolution

The study’s finding that resolving arrhythmias through interventions like pacemaker implantation or ablation significantly reduces the prevalence of SDDs provides critical insight. this suggests that improving cardiac function directly benefits ocular health by restoring adequate blood flow to the eyes. This highlights the potential for targeted cardiovascular treatments to positively impact retinal conditions.

Future Trends and Research Avenues

The intersection of ophthalmology and cardiology opens up several avenues for future research and clinical practice:

• Longitudinal Studies: Tracking patients with SDDs over time to determine their risk of developing cardiovascular events.
• Advanced Imaging Techniques: Utilizing advanced retinal imaging technologies to better characterize SDDs and identify predictive biomarkers.
• Genetic Research: Further exploring the genetic links between SDDs and cardiovascular diseases.
• Clinical Trials: Investigating the impact of cardiovascular interventions on SDD progression and visual outcomes.

The role of Telemedicine in Early Detection

Telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies can play a crucial role in detecting sdds and assessing cardiovascular risk, particularly in underserved communities. Remote retinal imaging can be used to screen patients for SDDs, and wearable devices can monitor cardiac parameters, allowing for timely interventions and referrals.

Table: Comparing Drusen and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits (SDDs)

Feature	Drusen	subretinal Drusenoid Deposits (sdds)
Location (OCT)	Below the Retinal pigment Epithelium (RPE)	Above the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE)
Genetic Risk	Mutations in the CFH gene	Mutations in the ARMS2 gene
Cholesterol Composition	Esterified	Non-esterified
Progression to Late AMD	Can occur	Occurs sooner
Association with Cardiovascular Disease	Less pronounced	Stronger association

Reader Question:

What specific questions should I ask my eye doctor if I am concerned about the possibility of SDDs, especially given my family history of heart disease?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs)?

Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits (SDDs) are deposits that form above the retinal pigment epithelium and are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular issues.

How are SDDs detected?

SDDs are typically detected during a routine eye exam using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

What should I do if my eye doctor finds SDDs?

If SDDs are detected, discuss with your doctor the possibility of undergoing cardiovascular testing to assess your heart health.

Are SDDs treatable?

While there is no direct treatment for SDDs, managing underlying cardiovascular conditions and restoring proper circulation can help mitigate their impact.

Given the recent research linking subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) to cardiovascular health, what specific cardiovascular conditions have demonstrated the strongest correlation with SDD occurrence, based on the information provided in this interview?

Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits: An Interview with Dr. Anya Sharma on the Eye-Heart Connection

Archyde News welcomes you to this exclusive interview. Today, we’re diving deep into a fascinating study suggesting a link between our eyes and our hearts. We’re joined by Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading ophthalmologist and researcher specializing in retinal diseases. Dr. Sharma, thank you for being with us.

Introduction and Background

Archyde News: Dr. Sharma,we’re excited to have you. The recent research presented at ARVO 2025 on subretinal drusenoid deposits, or sdds, and their potential connection to heart health sounds incredibly promising. Can you start by explaining what SDDs are and how they differ from other types of drusen?

Dr. Sharma: Certainly. Thank you for having me. Subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) are distinct formations under the retina,differing from typical drusen. The location is the key difference. SDDs are found *above* the retinal pigment epithelium, while regular drusen sit *below* it. Moreover, SDDs are genetically linked to the ARMS2 gene, in contrast to the CFH gene mutations associated with drusen.Both can contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but SDDs frequently accelerate the process.

The Eye-Heart Connection

Archyde news: The research suggests a strong correlation between SDDs and undiagnosed cardiovascular issues. Can you elaborate on the underlying mechanisms driving this connection?

Dr. Sharma: Absolutely.The hypothesis is that compromised blood flow stemming from vascular diseases leads to hypoxic damage to photoreceptors, eventually causing SDDs. Conditions like cardiac disease and carotid artery disease considerably decrease blood flow to the eye, fostering the formation of these deposits. The study at Mount Sinai solidified this with SDDs linked to long-term arrythmias.

The mount Sinai Study and Key Findings

Archyde News: The Mount sinai study mentioned in the research seems notably insightful. What were the most meaningful findings from this study, and how do they impact clinical practice?

Dr. Sharma: The Mount Sinai study’s analysis of cardiac patients and SDDs found a compelling correlation. Almost 50% of long-term arrhythmia patients had SDDs, compared to roughly 31% of those without arrhythmias. Perhaps most importantly, among the group of patients with atrial fibrillation, more than half exhibited SDDs. This underscores the link between specific cardiac conditions and the eye. regarding clinical practice, it emphasizes the importance of ophthalmologists identifying SDDs during routine optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.This identification can trigger cardiology referrals, potentially leading to early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular issues.

Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment

Archyde News: Early detection is key. How can ophthalmologists and cardiologists collaborate to improve patient outcomes based on these findings?

Dr. Sharma: This is an exciting area for collaborative focus. Ophthalmologists can carefully screen patients for sdds, particularly those with known risk factors for heart disease or a family history. Detected SDDs should then prompt referrals to cardiologists for comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations. We’ve seen exciting results when patients with arrhythmias resolve their conditions through treatments. After these treatments, we see a drop in the prevalence of SDDs, highlighting that better cardiac function can directly benefit ocular health by restoring appropriate blood flow to the eyes.

Future Research and Trends

Archyde News: Looking ahead, what avenues of research and clinical practice do you see emerging from this connection between SDDs and heart health?

Dr. Sharma: There are several exciting research directions. We need long-term studies tracking patients with SDDs to determine their future cardiovascular risk.Advanced imaging technologies, for enhanced characterization of SDDs, and genetic research would further increase the understanding of these links. Clinical trials investigating the effect of cardiovascular interventions on SDD progression and visual outcomes would further enhance our understanding. Telemedicine and remote monitoring also provide potential in early detection, especially in underserved communities, where remote retinal imaging could be used for timely interventions.

A Question for Our Readers

Archyde News: This is truly fascinating. Dr. Sharma, thank you for your insights. Our readers are likely thinking about their own eye health now. So, Dr. sharma, for our readers, if you want to know what is vital to ask your doctor, what are the key questions someone might ask their eye doctor?

Dr. Sharma: First,express your concerns and highlight your family history. Then inquire about the presence of SDDs using OCT imaging.Next, ask what the implications are if SDDs are detected, including recommendations for cardiovascular screening. Inquire about the treatment strategies for both eye issues and potential heart problems. This empowers patients to understand their own health better and manage risk factors.

Archyde News: Excellent advice. Thank you for explaining it so well, Dr. Sharma. we greatly appreciate your time and expertise.

Dr. Sharma: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.