Purpose: To evaluate the effect of obesity and obesity-related high blood pressure (BP) on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macula in children and adolescents.
Materials and methods: Thirty-two obese patients followed up in the pediatrics endocrinology clinic between 2018 and 2019 were evaluated in the ophthalmology clinic. The results were compared with 25 healthy subjects, matched for age and sex. Anthropometric measurements, and systolic and diastolic BP were measured. The study consisted of three groups: Group 1, patients with obesity; Group 2, those with obesity and associated hypertension (obesity-related HT); and Group 3, healthy controls. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed. Macular and RNFL thicknesses were determined using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of gender, age, and intraocular pressure (p > .05). The inferior RNFL thickness and central foveal thickness were statistically thinner in the obesity-related HT group (p < .001 and p = .040). The systolic and diastolic BP and fasting glucose values were significantly higher in the obesity-related HT group than the other groups (p < .001; p < .001; p = .026, respectively). In linear regression modeling in obese and obesity-related HT groups, a significant assocation was found between diastolic BP and temporal RNFL thickness (p = .027) as well as between the systolic BP and triglyceride values and the nasal RNFL thickness values (p = .016 and p = .025, respectively).
Conclusions: Inferior RNFL thickness and central foveal thickness were significantly thinner in patients with obesity-related HT. The effects of obesity-related HT on the retina should be evaluated using SD OCT, since no signs were found in a routine ocular examination.
Keywords: Childhood obesity; blood pressure; intraocular pressure; optic coherence tomography; retina nerve fiber.