Question
Weight gain and optic nerves
How does weight affect the optic nerves? I was recently told by an ophthalmologist that I have swollen optic nerves which will cause me to go blind if I don't do something. She said the swelling was most likely caused by weight gain. It's true that over the course of 13 years or so I've put on more than 30 lbs due to medication side effects, though I've been hovering in the same weight area for the last few years. But she didn't explain how this weight gain caused the swelling, nor how losing 20 lbs will help. I didn't get much of a chance to ask because she seemed in a hurry to be done with me and just left me with 'get an MRI and start a diet'. I don't understand the reasoning because it seems like more people would be going blind from gaining a lot of weight. Can anyone explain this?
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