To evaluate the associations between components of metabolic syndrome and retinal vascular changes in a Korean population based on data collected at health check-ups.

Fundus photographs of 381 patients participating in a health check-up were examined to identify central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) by IVAN software. Retinal hemorrhage, arteriovenous nicking, and retinal exudate were also noted. The association between metabolic syndrome and each component was then analyzed.

Significant associations were shown between metabolic syndrome and CRAE ( p = 0.032), central obesity and CRAE ( p = 0.037), triglyceride and CRAE ( p = 0.011), and triglyceride and AVR ( p = 0.005), in addition to central obesity and arteriovenous nicking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.68, p = 0.013), central obesity and retinal exudate (OR = 2.30, p = 0.038), serum glucose and retinal hemorrhage (OR = 8.06, p = 0.030), and blood pressure and arteriovenous nicking (OR = 2.78, p = 0.007).

Metabolic syndrome showed a significant relationship with retinal artery diameter. Central obesity showed the greatest relationship with retinal vascular changes among each of the components of metabolic syndrome.