Aim: To evaluate the association among elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the metabolic syndrome (MetS), body mass index (BMI), and some of their components in the Israeli population.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 12 747 soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces, aged 35y or older, who underwent a routine periodical medical examination between 1991 and 2004. None of the subjects received medical treatment for either glaucoma or ocular hypertension. High IOP (>21 mm Hg) was correlated with age, sex, arterial blood pressure, total blood cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, BMI and MetS.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the IOP of subjects with a low risk and higher risk for the development of MetS (P<0.0001 for males, P=0.0026 for females). A statistically significant positive correlation was found in male subjects between high BMI and elevated IOP (r=0.11677, P<0.0001).
Conclusion: MetS and BMI were significantly more prevalent in subjects with increased IOP levels. We suggest that both should be taken into consideration in the assessment of glaucoma suspects.
Keywords: Metabollic syndrome; body mass index; glaucoma.