PLoS ONE (Jan 2020)
Effect of weight loss on the retinochoroidal structural alterations among patients with exogenous obesity.
Abstract
PurposeTo evaluate the changes in the retinochoroidal vasculature in patients with exogenous obesity using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA).MethodsIn this prospective study, 60 patients diagnosed with obesity (47 males) (mean age: 46.47±10.9 years) were included, of which 30 patients underwent bariatric surgery (Group A), and 30 patients underwent conservative management (exercise/diet) (Group B). Parameters including choroidal thickness (CT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and retinal capillary density index (CDI) and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were measured at the baseline and three months follow up. 30 eyes (30 age and gender-matched) of normal participants were included for comparison.ResultsBaseline CT was lower in 60 participants with obesity compared to controls. Compared with normal subjects, subjects with obesity had higher mean CVI (0.66±0.02 versus 0.63±0.04; pConclusionSubclinical changes in retinochoroidal vasculature occurs in participants with exogenous obesity compared to healthy subjects. Surgical intervention (bariatric surgery) may have a favorable outcome on the choroidal thickness in these patients.