Association of Body Metrics and Ocular Diseases

Background/Objectives: The relationship between systemic health and ocular diseases is well-documented, with various body metrics potentially playing significant roles in the pathogenesis of cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, comprehensive studies linking these metrics with ocular health are sparse. This study aims to explore the associations between height, weight, waist circumference, and BMI with the prevalence and current status of cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD in a large cohort. Methods: We used data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES 2015-2021), a national, cross-sectional health examination and survey, for which representative data on the health, nutritional status, and physical activities of the Korean general population are collected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). We compared height, weight, waist circumference, and BMI among patients with diagnosed and current cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD versus those without these conditions. Statistical analyses included t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses to examine the relationships between body metrics and ocular diseases. Results: Our findings indicate that shorter height and lower weight are associated with diagnosed cataracts and glaucoma but not with their current status. A greater waist circumference was observed in patients with diagnosed cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD compared to controls, suggesting central obesity as a potential associated factor. No significant differences in BMI were found in patients with current ocular diseases. Additionally, certain body metrics were correlated with refractive errors and visual acuity, suggesting broader implications for ocular health. Conclusions: The study highlights significant associations between body metrics and the risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD. AMD was found to be more closely related to systemic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, than to body metrics. These findings suggest that interventions targeting obesity and metabolic health could potentially reduce the risk or severity of these common ocular conditions. Further research is needed to confirm these relationships and explore underlying mechanisms.