Can Obesity Cause Vision Problems?
Obesity causes many health problems. But did you know it can cause problems with vision as well? According to the staff at Doctors for Visual Freedom in Chicago, studies indicate that carrying extra weight can be a contributing factor in vision loss.
Extra weight is known to increase blood pressure and, naturally, this excess pressure can put too much stress on the blood vessels located in your eyes. Since these vessels are very delicate, they can be damaged relatively easily and will lead to vision problems.
Two Israeli ophthalmologists, Professor Michael Belkin and Dr. Zohar Habort-Wilner of the Goldschleger Eye Institute at the Sheba Medical Centre, reviewed 20 studies involving many thousands of patients across the globe. The two ophthalmologists found a clear link between excessive weight and the development of eye diseases.
“The purpose behind this review was to acquaint physicians and lay people with the dangers of being fat as related to ophthalmology,” said Prof Belkin, a professor of ophthalmology at Tel Aviv University. Evidence points to a link between clinical obesity and eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Other eye conditions that can be linked to weight problems include retinal vein occlusion, floppy eyelid syndrome, sleep apnea and stroke related vision loss.
