Impact of obesity on ocular parameters: A comparative study of normal-weight and obese adults.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity on various ocular examination parameters in a comparative analysis between normal-weight and obese adults. Methods: Thirty-two normal-weight and 64 obese adults were included in the study. Detailed ophthalmologic examination, including intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and axial length (AL) by A-mode ocular ultrasonography; and macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) by spectral domain optical coherence tomography were compared between normal-weight and obese adults. Obese individuals were further stratified into Class I-II and Class III obesity categories, and the ocular parameters were compared between these three groups. Results: IOP was significantly higher in the obese group than in the healthy controls (16.7±2.4 vs. 15.1±2.2 mmHg, p=0.002), whereas CCT, keratometry values, ACD, LT, AL, and RNFL thicknesses did not differ between the groups. The mean retinal thicknesses in the inner retinal ring (3 mm) at superior (p=010), nasal (p=0.04), and temporal (p=0.002) quadrants were lower in the class III obese group compared to class I obese individuals. ACD was significantly narrower in class III obese group (p=0.01). Body mass index was significantly correlated with IOP (p<0.001). Conclusion: Obesity is associated with elevated IOP and signs of retinopathy. An increase in the severity of obesity was found to be associated with a decrease in macular thickness and a narrowing of the anterior chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]