The Effect of Childhood Obesity on Intraocular Pressure, Corneal Biomechanics, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, and Central
Sayime Aydin Eroglu1, Ayse Ipek Akyuz Unsal2, Furkan Verdi3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bakircay University Cigli Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Insights
Obesity in children is linked to higher intraocular pressure (IOPg) and improved corneal biomechanics (corneal hysteresis and resistance factor). These findings suggest obese children may have an increased risk for glaucoma, warranting further screening.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Obesity is associated with various systemic health issues, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
- The impact of obesity on ocular health, particularly corneal biomechanics and glaucoma risk in children, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of obesity on corneal biomechanical properties in children.
- To assess the relationship between obesity and ocular parameters such as intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and central macular thickness (CMT).
- To evaluate the potential glaucoma risk associated with obesity in the pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 146 children aged 6-17 years, categorized into normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups.
- Corneal biomechanical parameters, including corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF), were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer.
- Intraocular pressure (IOPg, IOPcc), RNFL thickness, cup-to-disk ratio, and central macular thickness (CMT) were assessed using Goldmann-correlated IOP and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited significantly higher Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg) compared to normal-weight children.
- Both overweight and obese children showed significantly higher corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) values than healthy-weight children.
- A positive correlation was observed between Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile and IOPg, CH, and CRF values.
Conclusions:
- Elevated corneal hysteresis and resistance factor in obese children suggest an impact of weight on corneal biomechanics.
- Increased IOPg in obese children indicates a potential heightened risk for glaucoma.
- Routine screening for intraocular pressure and retinal changes is recommended for obese children to detect early signs of glaucoma.
PréCis:
Elevated corneal hysteresis (CH) and resistance factor (CRF) in obese and overweight children imply weight's effect on corneal biomechanics. Increased Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg) in obese children indicates glaucoma risk, emphasizing screening for IOP and retinal changes.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of obesity on corneal biomechanics, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and central macular thickness (CMT) in children.
Patients And Methods:
In this prospective, cross-sectional, comparative study, 146 eyes of normal-weight, over-weight, and obese children aged between 6 to 17 years were evaluated. The IOPg, corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc), CH, CRF, and the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), average cup-to-disk ratio (c/d), and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured by Ocular Response Analyser and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT), respectively.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference regarding age, gender, IOPcc, average RNFL thickness, c/d ratio, and CMT among the groups ( P ≥0.05). The IOPg was significantly higher in obese children compared with normal-weight children, while CH and CRF values were significantly higher in both obese and over-weight children compared with healthy ones ( P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between BMI percentile and IOPg, CH, and CRF values.
Conclusion:
In our study, higher IOPg, corneal hysteresis, and corneal resistance factor values suggest that obese children could be potential candidates for glaucoma. Therefore, it would be appropriate to screen them for IOP and retinal alterations. Further investigations with larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to understand the risk of glaucoma in obese children.
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