Metabolic Syndrome May Exacerbate Macular and Retinal Damage in Psoriasis Vulgaris

Purpose: To evaluate whether cases with both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome are prone to retinal and macular changes. Materials and Methods: A total of 174 eyes of 87 subjects were evaluated. Of the 87 subjects, 24 had psoriasis, 19 had psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, 18 had metabolic syndrome only and 26 were healthy subjects. Biochemical analysis, anthropometric, blood pressure and optical coherence tomography measurements and thickness analysis were obtained for each case. Results: The superior retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was significantly lower in the psoriasis and metabolic syndrome group than in the psoriasis group. For all parafoveal quadrants, the ganglion cell complex thickness was statistically significantly lower in the psoriasis group than in the healthy group. The central macula was thinnest in the healthy group among the four groups. Conclusions: Psoriasis can cause retinal changes, and metabolic syndrome may cause additional damage in the retina and macula in cases with psoriasis.