Natural eye lenses linked to larger retinal age gaps
In an observational study, eyes with natural lenses were estimated to be 14.9 years older on average than eyes with implanted artificial lenses.
283 eyes, cohort study
Limit: Lens optics influence AI age estimates, potentially confusing optical differences with retinal aging
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
A retrospective observational study examined 283 eyes from adults attending a glaucoma clinic in Japan, whose mean age was 65.5 years. The sample included 218 eyes with glaucoma and 65 control eyes. Researchers used artificial intelligence to estimate the age of the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye, from photographs. They defined the retinal age gap as estimated age minus actual age.
Eyes with natural lenses had larger age gaps than eyes with implanted artificial lenses. Worse vision and more farsightedness were also associated with larger gaps. Glaucoma severity was not significantly associated with the gap overall. Among eyes with natural lenses, those with glaucoma had larger gaps than controls. The authors said eye conditions, particularly lens status, should inform interpretation of retinal age estimates.
Why it matters
Retinal age gaps are a proposed marker of biological aging. Understanding what shapes these estimates matters for judging their usefulness in aging research.
Caveats
The retrospective associations do not establish cause or validate the age gap as a measure of biological aging. Patients came from one glaucoma clinic; eyes with age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy were excluded.
The paper
Clinical determinants of retinal age gap estimated from fundus photographs in glaucoma patients
University of Yamanashi Hospital
Scientific Reports, Jun 2, 2026, Open access
