Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 05, 2025 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
Medical News: A Closer Look at How Weight Affects Eye Health After COVID-19
Scientists from the University of Salamanca, the Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), and the Castilla and León Health Service in Spain have discovered that individuals suffering from persistent COVID-19 may experience subtle but significant changes in their eye blood vessels, particularly if they are overweight or obese. These microvascular alterations could serve as early warning signs of systemic vascular damage caused by lingering inflammation after COVID-19. This
Medical News report highlights how the eyes may reveal clues about the broader impact of the virus on the body’s blood vessel health.
Long COVID Linked to Hidden Eye Vessel Changes in People with Obesity
Unveiling the Study Findings
The study involved 284 adults diagnosed with long COVID, most of whom continued to experience fatigue, breathlessness, and sleep disturbances nearly three years after their initial infection. Using advanced retinal imaging, researchers measured the size of tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye and compared them to various body fat measurements—including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and newer indices such as the Body Roundness Index (BRI) and Abdominal Volume Index (AVI).
Men in the study tended to have higher abdominal fat and larger waistlines, while women had slightly narrower retinal veins. Results showed that people with greater amounts of body fat had enlarged retinal veins and a lower arteriole-to-venule (AV) ratio, indicating reduced microvascular health. These changes were especially noticeable in those with abdominal obesity, which is often linked to chronic inflammation and poor circulation.
Why the Findings Matter
Researchers noted that obesity—especially the accumulation of visceral fat—can trigger inflammation and disrupt blood vessel function throughout the body. In people with long COVID, this ongoing inflammation may worsen the damage to tiny capillaries, such as those in the retina, which can be observed non-invasively through imaging.
The team explained that enlarged retinal veins might reflect a persistent inflammatory state and endothelial dysfunction—the inability of blood vessels to relax and regulate blood flow properly. Over time, this dysfunction contributes to cardiovascular risks, including hypertension and stroke. The findings support growing evidence that long COVID affects not just the respiratory system but also the circulatory network, potentially accelerating vascular aging.
Obesity and Long COVID—A Dangerous Combination
The study suggests that obesity could make the vascular complications of long COVID more severe. In particular, individuals with higher AVI and BRI scores showed a clear correlation with larger retinal veins, even when adjusted for age, sex, and lifestyle factors like smoking and exercise. Interestingly, the arteries in the retina did not show the same level of association, implying that venous
changes may occur earlier and be more sensitive markers of metabolic and inflammatory stress.
Potential for Early Detection and Prevention
The Spanish researchers believe that retinal imaging may become a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting early microvascular damage in long COVID patients. Because these tiny vessels mirror the condition of the broader vascular system, monitoring them could help doctors identify individuals at higher risk for heart and circulatory complications. Moreover, lifestyle interventions—such as weight loss, anti-inflammatory diets, and increased physical activity—might help restore healthier vessel function.
Concluding Insights
This pioneering research underscores how the aftermath of COVID-19 extends deep into the body’s vascular system, with the eyes serving as a transparent window into hidden damage. The study provides further proof that obesity amplifies the long-term consequences of the virus, reinforcing the urgent need for better management of weight and inflammation in recovering patients. As the authors caution, while these findings are promising, more long-term studies are needed to determine whether such retinal changes can be reversed with treatment or lifestyle improvements.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Medicine.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/21/7857
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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