Association between localized retinal nerve fibre layer defects and metabolic syndrome in nonglaucomatous eyes: A propensity score‐matched analysis

Aims/Purpose: To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and localized retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defects in nonglaucomatous subjects. Methods: We examined 20 385 adults at the Health Promotion Center in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between May 2015 and April 2016. Subjects with and without localized RNFL defects were 1:5 propensity score matched. Metabolic syndrome components, central obesity, elevated triglyceride, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose, were compared between two groups. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between RNFL defects and each metabolic syndrome component as well as the number of metabolic syndrome components. Results: Subjects with RNFL defects showed higher waist to hip ratio, systolic and diastolic BP, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c compared to those without RNFL defects before and after propensity score matching. The number of metabolic syndrome components was significantly greater in those with RNFL defects (1.66 ± 1.35) compared to those without (1.27 ± 1.32, p