Developing blood fatty acid-based algorithms as early predictors of macular degeneration and glaucoma: applying machine learning to harmonized data from prospective cohort studies

The National Eye Institute awarded Omegaquant Analytics, LLC a $320,864 project grant on August 1, 2026, under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) to develop blood fatty acid-based algorithms as early predictors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma using machine learning applied to harmonized data from prospective cohort studies.

The recipient will apply circulating fatty acid measurements—particularly omega-3 and other fatty acid profiles—to identify individuals at high risk for AMD and glaucoma and to predict changes in optical coherence tomography angiography measures such as retinal thickness and vessel density. The work addresses the substantial and growing economic burden of these conditions, which affect approximately 20 million Americans with AMD and 4 million with glaucoma, with projected lost productivity exceeding $373 billion annually by 2050. Existing risk factor models combining age, sex, race/ethnicity, genetics, and clinical variables such as smoking, blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes show limited predictive ability; the project aims to improve early identification and enable more targeted intervention by leveraging erythrocyte fatty acid profiles as prognostic biomarkers independent of standard risk factors.

Omegaquant Analytics, a for-profit limited liability company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, specializes in blood-based biomarker analysis and clinical laboratory services. The period of performance runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, with work performed at the Sioux Falls location.

Abstract

Two of the most common and debilitating eye-related diseases are age-related macular degeneration (AMD; ~20 million cases in the US) and glaucoma (~4 million cases in the US). The economic impact of these conditions is substantial and growing as our population continues to age, with an estimate of over $373 billion in annual lost productivity by 2050 in the US alone. Over the last 60 years multiple risk factors (RFS) for AMD and/or glaucoma have been discovered, with smoking, blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, poor diet, and sun exposure now considered 'standard' and, in some cases, modifiable. But even when combined with age, SEX, race/ethnicity and genetics, the predictive ability of these RFS is still lower than desired. Novel biomarkers of risk that can better predict who is at high risk for AMD and/or glaucoma, and/or changes in optical coherence tomography angiography (octa) measures (e.g., retinal thickness; vessel density) may allow for earlier and more targeted intervention and are of high interest. There is considerable evidence that circulating fatty acids (FAS; ESP. N3-FA - see the recent jama ophthalmology paper by CO-i sala-vila ET AL. On n-3S and diabetic retinopathy) can provide prognostic information regarding risk for eye health, independent of standard RFS. But, emerging data supports a role for other FAS as well. Data suggest that trans FA are potentially harmful, omega-6 levels are largely inconclusive, and saturated fats and mono-unsaturated fats (e.g., oleic acid, common in the mediterranean diet) have yielded widely disparate findings to date. As a clinical laboratory that has specialized in providing FA measurements, interpretation and customized behavioral interventions for the last 15 years, omegaquant analytics (OQA) supports a large and growing customer base of researchers, clinicians, businesses, and individuals- including an increasing number of optometrists, ophthalmologists and other eye health experts. OQA is a leader in the at-home FA testing market through its innovative dried blood spot collection system, testing ~40,000 samples annually. In this project we will: aim 1. Use machine learning to define RBC FA patterns that predict risk for 1) incident AMD 2) incident glaucoma or 3) related octa measures. We will begin by harmonizing eye health outcomes, fatty acids and covariate data from the FHS, whims, mesa, and bprhs yielding sample sizes of up to 19,922 total individuals with information on AMD or glaucoma outcomes over an average of 10+ years of follow-up. We will then apply statistical / machine learning algorithms to determine (aim 1A) the extent to which we can separately predict changes in AMD and glaucoma from baseline RBC FA metrics. These analyses will lead to 2 unique sets of FA metrics that will predict risk for 1) incident AMD (the macular degeneration FA index, famadi), and 2) incident glaucoma (glaucoma fatty acid index, gafi). Aim 2. Explore how famadi and gafi can be leveraged to profitability. Proof of concept feasibility will set US up for larger-scale prospective studies and improved modelling in phase II.