Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Refractive errors are among the most common visual impairments worldwide, impacting individuals of all ages. These include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, each affecting how the eye focuses light on the retina, often leading to blurred vision. Simultaneously, obesity has emerged as a global epidemic associated with multiple health risks, including potential effects on ocular structure and function. This study aimed to assess the relationship between obesity and refractive errors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 obese patients (ages 8-72) at Martyr Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital in Baghdad. Data collected included BMI, demographic information, and ophthalmologic examinations using auto refractors, visual acuity tests, trial lenses, trial frames, retinoscopy, and pachymetry. The findings revealed variations in refractive error prevalence across obesity classes, with potential implications for eye health in obese populations. Understanding this relationship may help in the early detection and prevention of vision problems through lifestyle modifications and improved public health awareness.