Wednesday, September 6 2006 17:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: People who are obese face a higher risk of developing certain conditions, which could lead to severe sight loss and blindness.

The risk was found to be double in people with a body mass index of over 30, who are classed as obese, reported the online edition of BBC news.

People who have a genetic predisposition to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) must be particularly careful about their weight, according to a report by The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNI).

The study also says the condition increases from a four-fold risk, if they are of normal weight, to an 11-fold risk if they are obese.

AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in Britain, with around 500,000 people affected by it.

Studies have shown that obesity also significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is linked to diabetic retinopathy.

The risk of sight loss through diabetes is also particularly high in people from Asian, African and Caribbean backgrounds, who are four to five times more likely to develop diabetes.

There is also a link between being severely overweight and glaucoma, caused by pressure within the eye.

"Sight is the sense we most fear losing, but most people don't do nearly enough to look after their eyes," said Barbara McLaughlan, an eye health consultant who wrote the RNI report.

"To safeguard sight, we recommend people maintain a healthy weight, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, exercise to improve general health, don't smoke and most importantly have regular eye tests," McLaughlan added.