A person’s weight may play a role in their eye health. Obesity has become a major problem across the country, and with it other health issues have become more prevalent. While most people realize that their weight may play a role in them developing a disease, such as diabetes, people may not be aware that obesity could also increase their risk for eye conditions. Take a look at how weight may affect your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
While being overweight will not cause age-related macular degeneration, it may lead to a higher risk of developing the disease. AMD is a condition that may result in the loss of central vision. There are a few different types of AMD, such as wet and dry. Once a person develops wet AMD, obesity may make it more likely that it will progress to dry AMD. Your optometrist may be able to help you learn more about these risks.
Diabetic Retinopathy
A person’s weight can play a role in their development of diabetes, as most people know. Similarly, if a person with diabetes is obese, he or she may develop retinopathy, which is caused by blood-vessel damage in the retina, sooner than their counterparts. Some studies have suggested that being overweight could lead to a more severe case of diabetic retinopathy. No matter what your weight, you may need to have more frequent comprehensive eye exams if you have diabetes.
Glaucoma
Elevated eye pressure is a big risk of glaucoma, which is a disease that causes nerve damage in the eye. Being overweight or obese may not have a direct association with glaucoma, but some studies have found that an overweight person is more likely to have high intraocular pressure.
If you want to keep your eyes at their best, you need to get more information from your eye doctor in the Eldersburg, MD, area.