Kai Jin ^1* Jiong Zhang ² Andrzej Grzybowski ³

• ¹ Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
• ² Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
• ³ Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland., Poznan, Poland

The human eye is not just a window to the soul but also a critical portal through which medical professionals can glean information about a patient's overall health. Advances in technology and research over recent decades have underscored the eye's value as a diagnostic tool for detecting systemic diseases. This editorial explores how ocular assessments can be leveraged for predictive and diagnostic purposes in systemic disorders, underlining the scientific basis and clinical applications of such practices. Systemic diseases often manifest in the eye due to their unique vasculature and neural composition. The retina, for instance, shares similar embryological origins with the brain and is supplied by a rich vascular network. This makes it an ideal site for detecting vascular and neurological changes that reflect systemic conditions. The retinal microvasculature is often reflective of the broader systemic vascular system. Conditions 59 such as hypertensive retinopathy can reveal not only the presence of high blood pressure but also its 60 duration and impact on vascular health [9]. Retinal vascular changes like arteriolar narrowing and 61 arteriovenous nicking are indicative of chronic hypertension and are predictive of an increased risk of 62 stroke [10]. Furthermore, studies have shown that monitoring the retinal vessel calibers can serve as 63 an indicator for coronary artery disease, suggesting that ocular assessments could be included as part 64 of a cardiovascular risk assessment protocol [11]. 65In the realm of neurological disorders, the eye has shown remarkable promise in providing early 66 diagnostic markers.