Effect of Body Mass Index on Intraocular Pressure, Optic Disc Parameters and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography in Adults

Background: Obesity is frequently observed in conjunction with systemic diseases which increase mortality, including cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Further, it is a component of metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to Assess impact of body mass index (BMI) on the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), optic disc parameters, and intraocular pressure in adults using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: The present cross-sectional observational study comprised 40 eyes of 20 cases with clear ocular media, refractive error < 2 diopters (D) spherical equivalent, and variable BMIs at Benha University Hospital. All participants were alienated into 3 groups according to BMI distribution: Group normal weight (n=12), group overweight (n=14) and group obese (n=14). Results: In obese group, the BMI had a significant positive correlation with IOP (r = 0.939, P value = 0.002) while non-significant correlations were observed between BMI with C/D ratio and RNFL thickness (temporal, nasal, inferior, superior and average). Conclusion: In obese group, this study demonstrated a durable positive correlation between IOP and BMI, indicating a significant association between higher BMI and increased IOP among adults. Nevertheless, there were insignificant differences in the thickness of the RNFL or the cup-to-disc ratio of the optic disc across the various BMI categories.