title: Utility of Ward-Based Retinal Photography in Stroke Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improvements in acute care of stroke patients have decreased mortality, but survivors are still at increased risk of future vascular events and mitigation of this risk requires thorough assessment of the underlying factors leading to the stroke. The brain and eye share a common embryological origin and numerous similarities exist between the small vessels of the retina and brain. Recent population-based studies have demonstrated a close link between retinal vascular changes and stroke, suggesting that retinal photography could have utility in assessing underlying stroke risk factors and prognosis after stroke. Modern imaging equipment can facilitate precise measurement and monitoring of vascular features. However, use of this equipment is a challenge in the stroke ward setting as patients are frequently unable to maintain the required seated position, and pupil dilatation is often not feasible as it could potentially obscure important neurological signs of stroke progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This small study investigated the utility of a novel handheld, nonmydriatic retinal camera in the stroke ward and explored associations between retinal vascular features and stroke risk factors. This camera circumvented the practical limitations of conducting retinal photography in the stroke ward setting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive correlation was found between carotid disease and both mean width of arterioles (r = .40, P = .00571) and venules (r = .30, P = .0381).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide further evidence that retinal vascular features are clinically informative about underlying stroke risk factors and demonstrate the utility of handheld retinal photography in the stroke ward.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Center/Health and Biosecurity, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: shaun.frost@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Verity
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stirling
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Center/Health and Biosecurity, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Janardhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignarajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Center/Health and Biosecurity, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Yogesan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanagasingam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Stroke; aging; retina; risk factors; vascular