Work

Central Adiposity and Tear Film Instability in Adults With Obesity

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose To examine the association between central adiposity, assessed by waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), and tear film stability in adults with obesity. Methods This cross‐sectional observational study included 269 adults with BMI ≥ 28 kg/m 2 . WHtR and noninvasive tear breakup time (NIBUT) were the primary exposure and outcome. Models adjusted for age, sex, education, systemic diseases, myopia, display exposure, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep problems. Secondary outcomes were Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and dry eye disease (DED) status; other adiposity indices were examined in separate models. Results Each 1‐SD higher WHtR was associated with shorter NIBUT (adjusted β −0.341 s; 95% CI −0.612–−0.071; p = 0.014). The highest versus lowest WHtR tertile differed by −0.961 s (95% CI −1.696–−0.227). BMI had a numerically larger coefficient (−0.591 s; 95% CI −0.842–−0.339). DED was present in 208 participants (77.3%). The WHtR–DED association was nominally significant (OR 1.630; 95% CI 1.072–2.477; p = 0.022) but did not survive false discovery rate correction ( q = 0.061). Conclusions Higher WHtR was associated with modestly shorter NIBUT among adults with obesity, while BMI showed a numerically larger association. These findings support considering overall and abdominal adiposity in the clinical assessment of ocular surface function.

Source: Journal of Ophthalmology

DOI: 10.1155/joph/7742500