Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Understand your heart health from a simple photograph of the eye, with your results explained on the day and a report to take home.
£75 members | £150 non-members
✓ A simple retinal photograph, much like an optician's eye scan
✓ Takes around 10 minutes, with no needles, no radiation and no preparation
✓ Insight into your current and future cardiovascular risk
✓ A printed report to take home on the day
✓ The option to discuss your result with one of our doctors
About the service
Heart Health Screening
Cardiovascular risk often stays hidden until symptoms appear. Knowing your risk earlier gives you and your doctor time to plan.
We now offer a cardiovascular risk assessment that uses a photograph of the back of your eye to estimate your risk of a cardiovascular event over the next five years. It takes only a few minutes, needs no preparation, and involves no needles and no radiation.
HOW IT WORKS
Quick, painless and ready the same day
Your appointment is with Patrick, our healthcare assistant, who guides you through each step. The whole appointment takes around 10 minutes, and your result follows shortly afterwards.
There is nothing to prepare beforehand. You can eat and drink normally and continue any medication as usual.
01
The photograph
Patrick takes a photograph of the retina at the back of each eye, in the same way you may have experienced at an optician. It is quick and painless.
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The analysis
The image is analysed to identify features in the retina that are linked to cardiovascular health.
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Your report
Your result is ready shortly afterwards. Patrick talks you through your printed report and what it means, and you take it home to keep.
04
Follow up if needed
If your result would benefit from a closer look, Patrick helps you arrange a further appointment with one of our doctors.
Why the eye tells us about the heart
The retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be observed directly, without surgery.
Since the ophthalmoscope was invented more than 150 years ago, clinicians have recognised that these vessels reflect changes happening in the wider circulation.
The assessment uses a clinically validated algorithm to analyse subtle patterns within a standard retinal image, translating those biological signals into a measurable indicator of cardiovascular risk.
What you will see
A closer look at your retina
Your report includes images of your own retina alongside a map of the blood vessels within it. The example shown here is from a healthy result.
Example of a healthy result, showing each retina alongside its blood vessel map.
Example of the personalised risk chart, comparing your score against others in your age group.
Your report
A clear, personalised picture
Your report gives you a straightforward summary of your cardiovascular risk and what it means for you. It includes:
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A risk score, shown alongside the typical range for your age group.
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A risk category of low, moderate or high.
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A clear written summary in plain language.
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Practical guidance on prevention and on any next steps worth considering.
Your result
What your result means
Your result places you in one of three groups: lower risk, moderate risk or higher risk, each with clear guidance to match. A lower result is reassuring, though healthy habits are always worth keeping up. A higher result simply means there are steps worth taking sooner rather than later.
Whatever your result, you are welcome to talk it through with one of our doctors.
What the assessment does not do
This assessment estimates risk.
It does not diagnose heart disease.
A low result does not rule out heart disease, and a raised result does not mean you have it. The assessment does not replace tests your GP or cardiologist may recommend, such as blood tests, an ECG or imaging, and it is not a replacement for routine checks you may already be offered elsewhere.
If anything in your result needs looking at further, our doctors will talk it through with you and agree what to do next.
If you would like to go through your result in detail, review your wider risk factors, or talk about prevention, you can book a face to face appointment with one of our GPs.
Who it is for
Is this assessment right for me?
The assessment is suitable for adults who would like a clearer understanding of their heart health.
People often book it for one of the following reasons.
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A family history or genetic risk
Heart or circulatory disease runs in your family, or a close relative has recently been affected, and you would like to understand your own risk.
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A change in your lifestyle
You have lost weight, changed your diet or become more active, and would like to reassess your risk and track how it changes over time.
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Managing an existing condition
You are already managing raised blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes, and would like an additional perspective alongside your usual care.
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Reassurance and a baseline
You simply want a clear starting point and peace of mind about your heart health, whether or not you have a specific concern.
Frequently asked questions
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