Obesity and Eye Diseases

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has reached epidemic proportions in many countries. While its impact on overall health is well documented, less is known about the ocular manifestations of obesity. Amongst different eye diseases, obesity has been linked with age-related cataract, glaucoma, age-related maculopathy, and diabetic retinopathy. Numerous population-based and prospective studies support an association between obesity and risk of age-related cataract. However, the nature and strength of these associations, particularly with the different cataract subtypes, remains to be determined. There is strong evidence that obesity is associated with elevated intraocular pressure, but there is no convincing data to support a more direct association between obesity and glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Studies to date have not found a consistent pattern of association between obesity and risk of age-related maculopathy or diabetic retinopathy. Thus, while obesity may be a risk factor for many ocular conditions, the present literature is inadequate to establish any convincing associations. Furthermore, whether weight loss reduces the risk of eye diseases remains unresolved. Because of the potential public health impact of obesity, there is a greater need to understand its ocular effects.

Increased risk of cataract development in WNIN‐obese rats due to accumulation of intralenticular sorbitol

“…Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent life-style disorders worldwide and are associated with various comorbidities (1-3), with a plethora of complications such as diabetic retinopathy, high intraocular pressure, cataracts, macular degeneration, and exophthalmos (4,5). Among these disorders, cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and accounts for estimated cases of 18 million, half of all these cases originating in developing countries (6,7).…”

“…Among these disorders, cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and accounts for estimated cases of 18 million, half of all these cases originating in developing countries (6,7). Several large-scale population-based epidemiological studies consistently revealed strong links between obesity and cataract (5,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). It is widely accepted that oxidative stress, osmotic stress, and nonenzymatic glycation of lens proteins are the primary mechanisms leading to cataract (13), and obesity might influence any or all of these physiological processes (14,15).…”

Ocular findings in sleep apnoea patients using continuous positive airway pressure

“…1,2 Mechanical factors include an obesity-related increase in IOP. 30 OSAHS is often, although not invariably, associated with increased BMI. The positive association between obesity and intraocular pressure is proposed to be related to increased blood viscosity, increased episcleral venous pressure, and decreased aqueous outflow.…”

“…The positive association between obesity and intraocular pressure is proposed to be related to increased blood viscosity, increased episcleral venous pressure, and decreased aqueous outflow. 30 We did not have any patient in our cohort groups with disc swelling or pallor indicative of earlier episodes of ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Strong association of OSAHS with NAION has been shown in series of NAION patients when surveyed for symptoms of sleep disturbed breathing and/or on investigation with polysomnography.…”

Análise da capacidade de acomodação em pacientes présbitas com baixo índice de massa corporal

“…In the medical literature, BMI had only been related to eye conditions linked to nutritional factors such as age-related macular degeneration or those related to the aqueous humour and intraocular pressure (IOP), but no statistical correlation was found (8,20) . Therefore, assessing the relationship between BMI and presbyopia is unprecedented in the literature.…”