The Relationship between Oral and Ocular Health: The Role of Periodontitis in Eye Related Conditions

Background: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been linked to a number of systemic diseases. Although, its effect on ocular health is still open for further considerations. The present study aims to explore the association between periodontal disease and health and ocular health in tertiary hospital setting. Methods: An outpatient cross-sectional study was carried out on two hundred and fifty participants attending dental and ophthalmology clinics. Periodontal disease was evaluated using some clinical variables like probing pocket depth clinch and intraocular pressure alongside retinal examination for ocular health. The multivariate logistic regression was employed in examining the relationship between the two variables while controlling for other variables. Result: The study demonstrated a significant relationship between moderate and severe periodontitis and an increased occurrence of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy (p < 0.05). Other evidence suggest that individuals with extreme cases of periodontitis had increased levels of systemic inflammation which up-regulated the instances of ocular disease. The above findings provide an impression that particular types of ocular conditions may be attributed to individuals suffering from periodontal disease through normal circulation. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the link between diseases of the periodontium and the eye which necessitates an evidence of inter-disciplinary approach. More studies should be conducted to prove this assertion and also look at how changes in periodontal status affect ocular health.