Effects of childhood obesity on ocular pulse amplitude and intraocular pressure

To assess intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude changes in obese children and adolescents using dynamic contour tonometry.

137 cases, 64 obese and 73 healthy children, who were both age-matched and gender-matched, comprised the study population in this cross-sectional study. Children with body mass index values >95% for sex and age were regarded as obese. Participants underwent detailed ophthalmological examinations, including intraocular pressure measurement using a Pascal dynamic contour tonometer. Relationships between intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude measurements and age, sex, obesity, pubertal status, and insulin resistance were investigated.

Bilateral ocular pulse amplitude was lower while intraocular pressure was higher in the obese group than in the control group (p<0.001). No significant relationship was observed between insulin resistance and intraocular pressure or ocular pulse amplitude (p>0.005). No correlation was determined between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, or blood lipid levels and intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude.

Our results show that obesity caused an increase in intraocular pressure and a decrease in ocular pulse amplitude independently of insulin resistance in children and adolescents. Prospective studies involving long-term follow-up of cases are now needed to assess the probable adverse effects of these ocular findings in obese children.