Nationally, there is a heightened awareness about obesity’s impact on diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure. However, not many are aware of the relationship between excess weight and the risks of developing serious eye diseases.

July is recognized as Healthy Vision Month by the National Eye Institute, an organization dedicated to sharing information about the impact of vision loss on every part of life.

Researchers have linked obesity to the development of four major eye diseases that can cause blindness, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. These diseases are more common in obese people, along with floppy eyelid syndrome, retinal vein occlusions, thyroid-related eye diseases and stroke-related vision loss. The causes for the link between obesity and these diseases is still being investigated.

The reason that obesity impacts the eyes is thought to be due to the increased risk of peripheral artery disease that occurs when tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen to parts of our body like feet, kidneys and eyes are compromised. The blood vessels in the eyes are easily blocked since they are small and thin – about half the width of a human hair.

When these blood vessels become weakened, they no longer supply oxygen and other essential nutrients to the ocular region, allowing a variety of eye conditions to develop.

While peripheral arterial disease cannot be cured, weight loss, medications and other treatments can reduce symptoms and help slow or prevent progression of the disease. Losing weight also reduces the workload on your heart and arteries. Other studies show that obesity may reprogram immune system cells as we age, making them destructive to the eyes. 

This is how obesity impacts some diseases of the eye:

• For diseases like macular degeneration, it is thought that adipose tissue, or fat, absorbs the same nutrients that are needed for good health of the macular, which is the part of the retina at the back of the eye responsible for our central, color and fine detail vision.

• Cataracts are generally associated with age, but their development is also related to obesity-related conditions, including poor nutrition, gout, diabetes and high blood sugar.

• Morbid obesity is linked to the leading causes of vision loss and blindness, glaucoma and glaucomatous optic neuropathy, which are related to inner eye pressure. Morbid obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, or 35 and above with health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. BMI is calculated based on tissue mass and height.

The good news? Losing weight can reduce the risk of many diseases, including eye diseases. Regular eye exams help doctors identify early signs of eye disease and offer treatments to preserve vision.

About two out of five adults in the U.S. are living with obesity, and they make seven serious attempts on average to lose weight in their lifetime. Throughout these attempts, the body adapts to exercise and caloric intake, adjusting metabolism and often making it harder to lose weight with each attempt.

To get the health benefits of significant, lasting weight loss, discuss treatments and options with trusted health care professionals.

About the Author

Dr. Daanish Kazi, is board-certified and fellowship-trained general surgeon at Surgical Healing Arts Center in Fort Myers. For information, please visit SurgicalHealingArts.com.