A coalition of eye health-focused groups have formed the Alliance for Healthcare from the Eye (AHE) to use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse data to transform disease detection and care for both ocular and systemic health. Using AI in such a way is known as oculomics.

The AHE aims to make care more proactive and less reactive, said the consortium of clinicians, life science and tech companies, universities and policymakers at the group’s launch at ARVO 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“The eye offers a non-invasive, high-resolution window into the body’s vascular, neurologic and metabolic systems,” said founding AHE member, Professor Robert Weinreb from the University of California. “With advanced ophthalmic diagnostics, AI can help identify early indicators of heart disease, kidney dysfunction, neurodegeneration and other systemic diseases before symptoms arise.”

A foundational paper, co-authored by AHE members and published in JAMA Ophthalmology in May, highlights how AI-powered ocular pre-screening can support earlier detection, expand access and reduce healthcare costs, enabling a more efficient and accessible model of care through cross-sector collaboration.

“We’ve known for more than 100 years that it is possible to use the eye as a window to the rest of the body,” said AHE member Professor Pearse Keane from University College London. “This capability has been supercharged in recent years due to the combination of big data, advanced retinal imaging and artificial intelligence.”

Dr David Rhew, global chief medical officer at Microsoft, said “This is not just about eye care, it’s about unlocking new frontiers in whole-body health.”