Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Intraocular Pressure in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between BMI and IOP in adults at a tertiary care Hospital in Peshawar.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Ophthalmology Unit Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, from 1st February 2024 to 31st January 2025.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, performed over 12 months, involving 79 adult patients attending the Ophthalmology Outpatient Department. Subjects with ocular disease, systemic conditions that may affect IOP, and those taking medications that might affect BMI or IOP were excluded. BMI was classified based on WHO norms and IOP was assessed using Goldmann applanation tonometry. Pearson correlation and linear regression were performed to analyze the relationship between BMI and IOP.

Results: Mean height of the participants was 1.64 ± 0.08 m, mean weight was 65.18 ± 11.5 kg, mean BMI was 26.1 kg/m², and the mean IOP was 15.8 mmHg. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between BMI and IOP (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). The overweight (43%) and obese (48.1%) participants had higher IOP values than the participants with normal BMI (8.9%).

Conclusion: This study shows a strong correlation between BMI and IOP, indicating that there is a higher risk of having higher IOP in individuals with higher BMI. With the association of obesity and glaucoma, obesity should be incorporated into ophthalmological care. Ocular hypertension and glaucoma may be detected and prevented at an early age in overweight and obese people through regular IOP screening.