Does eyesight improve with weight loss?

jennybearlv

I experienced something odd today. I've had a mild astigmatism since my first eye exam as a teenager, but didn't need glasses until my 30's, which was also when I started gaining weight. I was also told when I got my glasses that I was nearsighted. I just wear my glasses for driving and shopping, because I see fine unless it's dark or I need to see something at a distance.

Today I hopped in my truck and completely forgot my glasses. I do this all the time, but don't make it past the end of the street before I have to turn around and get them. Well, I made it all the way to the store before I realized I forgot my glasses. I didn't notice until I got in Walmart that I didn't have my glasses and the signs were a little fuzzy. Weird thing is usually I see sort of double in addition to blurry, I think that is from the astigmatism, and I saw one of everything and was able to read the signs well enough to shop, which is unusual.

So, I'm wondering if I am imagining things or could my eyes actually be getting better? Anybody else find their vision improved with weight loss?

CattOfTheGarage

I haven't experienced this but I think I read something about it recently - something about fat in the eye sockets affecting the shape of the corneas (presumably putting pressure on the eyeball)? Could it be nonsense or me misremembering? It's always a strong possibility. Interested to hear what others say.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2698026/ this paper mentions obesity as a risk factor in various degenerative eye diseases but there's no mention of astigmatism in the abstract - it does mention "increase in intraocular pressure" (pressure inside the eyeball).

cmtigger

My prescription for nearsightedness and an astigmatism seems to change every year or two. It is really annoying.

lorrpb

cmtigger wrote: »

My prescription for nearsightedness and an astigmatism seems to change every year or two. It is really annoying.

Mine does too. They keep switching back and forth between a toric lens and a normal lens in my right eye. Doc says it's common for the eye to change like that. But it has nothing to do b with weight loss.

jennybearlv

lorrpb wrote: »

cmtigger wrote: »

My prescription for nearsightedness and an astigmatism seems to change every year or two. It is really annoying.

Mine does too. They keep switching back and forth between a toric lens and a normal lens in my right eye. Doc says it's common for the eye to change like that. But it has nothing to do b with weight loss.

Maybe that is what's going on. It does seem like my vision is a little better or worse at times, but this is the first time I could drive without glasses in years. I googled my question and didn't really get any satisfactory results, just a fear that I have diabetes, thanks google. But if anyone can find me a sensible answer I know it will be MFP people.

ActionAnnieJXN

I believe I remember my doctor saying that early-stage cataracts due to high blood sugar can improve if diabetes is reversed. I had them at one point and later he was unable to see them again after I lost a lot of weight.

kq1981

Nothing whatsoever to do with weight lose:-( I'm unsure how cataracts can disappear also, that's strange.

PaulaWallaDingDong

Could it be a vascular thing? (disclaimer: I know nothing about vision)

kq1981

Astigmatism is caused by the shape of yr cornea bulging or lens. Diabetes won't cause this. It's a reflective issue (the way the light shines through to the retina) Diabetes is systemic and does cause other macular issues. Prob need to have lens in glasses adjusted? Good luck with it. Eyesight is precious and it saddens me to hear about changes in a persons vision.

CattOfTheGarage

It could always be that your lenses are changing with age and the lenses and corneas are cancelling out each other's problems.

crackpotbaby

I would suggest seeing your Dr and being tested for diabetes.

zyxst

IDK if any of this is factual since I'm not an optometrist. Weight loss could affect the fluid pressure around your eyes - less weight, less fluid maybe better sight. The skin around your eyes may have been fluffed out with fat/fluid, so losing that makes it easier for your eyes to see.

I'd suggest seeing your eye doctor and asking about it, getting another exam.

aflane

I think that age will affect your eyesight more than weight loss.

TimothyFish

I suppose it is possible for there to be fat around the eye sockets, but that seems unlikely. It seems more likely that something like lower blood pressure or better blood flow (both of which can result from weight loss) might have something to do with it.

kq1981

Weight lose doesn't affect eye sight.

mcraw75

Obesity can cause strain and damage to blood vessels in the eyes resulting in problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. I'm not sure if weight loss can improve eyesight without these problems. More likely, it's that you're at that age where normal changes in the eye occur, hardening of the lens and such.

Lizzy622

It can also be that you are eating healthier and getting vitamins you may have been deficient in.

RunsWithBees

My eyesight has always been good, never needed glasses but after I lost weight I felt that it had "improved" even more, just things looking clearer and brighter. I attribute this to the fact that I was eating a greater variety and volume of vegetables and fruit and in turn getting lots of natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are probably good for my eyes anyway. I read somewhere that there are a couple of studies (could have been from Asia but I don't remember) that show a link between schoolchildren spending most of their time indoors needing glasses and when they "forced" groups of children to spend time outdoors in natural sunlight, the children in these groups wore less glasses overall. I did indeed start spending more time outdoors when I lost weight by hiking and running outside, so it might have been that too.

cwolfman13

I'm blind as a bat without my contacts or glasses...

jennybearlv

I'm starting to think my weight loss improves eyesight theory is not a thing. I haven't had my eyes checked in two years, so it sounds like my eyes could have just changed due to age, I'm 35. Since I have astigmatism and nearsightedness I'm sure the shape of my eyes are all kinds of weird.

I also haven't had a blood test at the doctors in almost three years. So, I'm probably long overdue. My blood pressure is fine, but I don't know about the rest. It was all fine three years ago, but that was three years ago. Whether or not they are related, I do need to find me a primary care and eye doctor. I hate seeing doctors.

rainbow198

My eyesight has improved so much after losing 80 pounds that I don't need to wear glasses anymore.

I attribute it maintaining a much healthier diet for years rather than weight loss however, but I'm not sure.

Ready2Rock206

That would be awesome if it did. I am pretty much blind without my contacts/glasses - I'd love to be able to see better!

VeryKatie

Um... I don't know. My guess would be that it does not. And that possibly you were given glasses when your eyes were strained and they have since recovered.

koslowkj

Optometry student here. Weight loss itself isn't going to make your vision better, and your eyes do tend to change a little from year to year.

Unmanaged or undiagnosed diabetes can affect eyesight (the lens in your eye swells, making you more nearsighted) but you'll more than likely experience changes in how blurry your vision is throughout the day - it'll be worse after eating, when your blood sugar is high. And your eyes are surrounded by tiny blood vessels, so anything that affects the vascular system can potentially affect the eyes.

As someone else mentioned, there are plenty of foods that are "eye healthy". Most of them are good for your macula, which is the part of your retina you use for your central vision, to see detail. While eating a ton of these probably won't help your eyesight, it does lower your risk of macular degeneration.

From what you've said my guess would be that the weight loss and vision are unrelated, but if it's been two years since you had an exam, you're due anyway.

I'll stop now.

FreyasRebirth

Well, pregnancy can cause eyesight changes. Not saying you are pregnant but if you've recently lost a lot of water weight it may somehow be related.

From WebMD:

Many pregnant women retain fluids. This common side effect can change the thickness and shape of your cornea. That can lead to distorted vision.

stuwu10

My eyesight deteriorated as my weight increased to 280lbs/125+kg. Type 2 diabetes was barely under control. Last October double vision resulted in a glasses prescription with a prism. With the help of MyFitnessPal and exercise I have lost 77lb/35kg. Wearing my prismed glasses I recently noticed the double vision had returned. So I started to take them off only to notice that while not perfect I could read and see things clearer. No double vision either. I decided to revert to a previous pair of specs with no prism and can see perfectly. I’m even watching tv with no glasses. I will take some convincing that weight loss doesn’t help restore vision.

Diatonic12

@stuwu10 That's great. I'm happy for you. Nice going all the way around for the 77lb weight releasing. Goodbye and farewell 77 lbs.