Retinal physiology in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Obesity is increasingly recognized not only for its systemic health impacts but also for its association with visual defects and eye diseases. This chapter explores the relationship between obesity and ocular health, highlighting the mechanisms by which metabolic dysregulation influences visual outcomes. Obesity exacerbates risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, which compromise retinal and optic nerve health. Conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma are discussed in the context of obesity-related inflammation, oxidative stress, and altered vascular function, focusing on the retina as one of the body's most metabolically demanding tissues. Key pathways include adipose-derived cytokines that disrupt retinal homeostasis, and the effects of insulin resistance on retinal cells and vasculature. Furthermore, this chapter covers emerging evidence on the advances of genetic factors linking diabetic retinopathy to retinal impairments. By elucidating these interactions, we aim to provide insight into preventive and therapeutic strategies that could mitigate vision loss among individuals with obesity.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; Inflammation; Neovascularization; Obesity; Retina development; VEGF therapy; Vision impairments.