Relationship between intraocular pressure and obesity in children

PURPOSE: To establish the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and obesity in children. METHODS: Seventy-two obese children (body mass index in the 95th percentile or greater) were compared with 72 age-matched and sex-matched controls (body mass index <95th percentile). Both groups underwent Goldmann applanation tonometry (3 times), blood pressure measurement (3 times), and Hertel exophthalmometry. Paired and unpaired t tests and the Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel statistics were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean IOP between the obese children and controls were significantly different (P<0.0001), even after adjusting for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.001). Diurnal variation of IOP was higher in obese children (P<0.001). Obese children had higher Hertel values (P<0.001). Sex did not significantly effect IOP in either group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to its indirect effect on IOP via blood pressure change, obesity is also an independent risk factor for increased IOP.