Choroidal thickness in obese women

Abstract

BackgroundExcessive weight is a well-known risk factor for microvascular diseases. Changes in thickness in a vascular tissue, such as the choroid, can be useful to evaluate the effect of obesity on the microvascular system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the choroidal thickness (CT) changes in obese women, using optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsThe prospective clinical study included examination of the right eyes of 72 patients. The right eyes of 68 patients were examined and served as the controls. A complete ophthalmological examination and OCT imaging were performed for each group studied. The CT in each eye was measured using OCT.ResultsThe obese group consisted of 72 female patients with a mean age of 37.27 ± 1.18 years. The control group included 68 female subjects with a mean age of 37.85 ± 7.98 years (p > 0.05). There was no statistical significant difference for the foveal retinal thickness measurements between the two groups (p > 0.5). Our study revealed significant choroidal tissue thickening subfoveally and at areas 500 μm temporal, 500 μm nasal, and 1500 μm nasal to the fovea in the obese group (all p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and CT changes.ConclusionsCT may increase in obese women and a positive correlation was found between BMI and CT.The trial protocol was approved by the Local Ethical Committee of the Kırıkkale University, date of registration: April 27, 2015 (registration number: 10/11).

Response to “Optical coherence tomography parameters in patients with photosensitive juvenile myoclonic epilepsy”

“…Dogan et al have found that the subfoveal CT is significantly thinner in morbidly obese individuals compared to non-obese individuals [12]. In contrast, Yumusak et al have showed that a positive correlation is present between BMI and CT [13]. None of the our participants were obese.…”

Ocular abnormalities in morbid obesity

“…Yilmaz et al also found negative correlations of between CT and both BMI and weight (26) . However, Yumusak et al (31) reported a positive correlation between BMI and CT in class two obese women, suggest that factors such as sex and severity of obesity may influence the relationship between BMI and choroidal blood flow.…”

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Obese Women

“…High BMI values have been reported to cause retinal dysfunction by affecting the retinal vascular structure. 18 Furthermore, the relationship between obesity and ARM has been reported in many studies. 5,19 In the literature, it was reported that this relationship may be due to the systemic oxidative stress developed secondary to hyperleptinemia caused by obesity.…”

“…17 Obesity, a multifactorial condition, is one of the well-known causes of microvascular diseases and the basis of this relationship can be revealed by examining vascular tissue. 18 An examination of this relationship is also important in terms of determining the ocular effects of obesity, which has not been fully understood yet.…”