Oculomics: advances and perspectives from traditional Chinese medicine to modern multimodal biomarkers

Oculomics, the study of the relationship between ophthalmic biomarkers (changes or abnormalities in the eye) and systemic health or disease states, posits that the eye can serve as a window into the overall health of the body. This concept aligns closely with the ideas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ocular diagnosis, which similarly emphasizes the eye as a reflective indicator of systemic conditions. As a burgeoning field, oculomics extends beyond traditional imaging-based approaches to encompass a broader spectrum of ocular biomarkers, including biochemical and electrophysiological data. While retinal imaging has been a cornerstone in identifying structural biomarkers from eyes, the integration of biochemical omics (e.g., metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics) and electrophysiological assessments offers a more comprehensive and multidimensional approach to understanding the association of systemic health between disease states. By integrating TCM ocular diagnosis with artificial intelligence, oculomics may offer a more cost-effective diagnostic option due to its non-invasive and economically efficient characteristics. In this review, we proposed a research framework for integrating ocular multimodal biomarkers from the perspectives of ocular imaging, biochemical testing, and electrophysiological assessment, further clarifying the new concept of oculomics. This multimodal approach exhibits significant potential for advancing precision medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes through early detection and personalized treatment strategies.