Google's Deep Learning Software Analyzes Retinal Images for Signs of Cardiovascular Risk

Google has been tinkering in the field of medicine over the last few years, including developing a prototype electronic contact lens. The company's latest health project involves detecting cardiovascular conditions by analyzing the vasculature of the retina. The researchers built a deep learning system that processed data from two datasets containing thousands of patients, each of which included images of a patient's retina along with various risk factors and health conditions such smoking and high blood pressure. The system found correlations between various parameters measured within the retinal images and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as disease. For example, the software was able to identify smokers just by looking at the retina 71% of the time.