Sleep apneais a sleep disorder in which a person can have hundreds of involuntary breathing pauses per night.
This leads to an array of symptoms and a risk for developing health complications, including certain eye disorders.
This article reviews the various eye conditions linked to sleep apnea.
Daniel Balakov / Getty Images
When they start breathing again, the oxygen will quickly increase.
This constant fluctuation of oxygen levels can impact the pressure in the eyes and lead to an inflammatory response.
This can lead to symptoms of eye irritation and dry eye.
It’s unclear exactly why floppy eyelid syndrome and sleep apnea are linked.
Papilledema
Papilledemais swelling of one or both optic nerve discs.
The optic nerve disc is where the optic nerve enters the back of the eye.
Swelling can potentially lead to blindness.
As such, it’s very important to address the cause of this swelling.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes a connection between sleep apnea and IIH.
This is painless, sudden, and usually occurs in one eye.
In RVO, there is a blockage in the small veins that carry blood away from theretina.
This blockage can result in blindness.
RVO is more prevalent among people who have obstructive sleep apnea.
Estimates suggest that 37%77% of people with RVO also have sleep apnea.
RVO is the second most common cause of blindness due to vascular disease in the retina, afterdiabetic retinopathy.
People with glaucoma have high pressure in the eye, which can cause damage to the optic nerve.
This results in loss of peripheral vision.
Over time, the visual field gets smaller and smaller and eventually may lead to total blindness.
Research also shows that CSR symptoms can rapidly improve when someone starts CPAP treatment.
This helps screen for glaucoma, which can be associated with sleep apnea.
You may also be asked questions about any symptoms of dry eyes.
Additionally, if your eye specialist suspects sleep apnea, they will ask you questions about your symptoms.
Treatment
The exact treatment for each eye disorder associated with sleep apnea will differ.
For many of them, part of treatment may include diagnosing and treating sleep apnea.
Depending on the eye condition, vision and other symptoms might improve once the sleep apnea is under control.
Some treatments for sleep apnea include:
Summary
Multiple eye disorders are linked to sleep apnea.
In other cases, an eye disorder may lead your eye specialist to investigate and diagnose sleep apnea.
CPAP machines can unfortunately contribute to dry eye syndrome due to air leaking and blowing into the eyes.
CPAP treatment has also been linked to glaucoma by increasing noctural intraocular pressure and should be monitored.
you might get tested for sleep apnea by a sleep specialist, through a sleep study called apolysomnography.
Other times, you may have to go into a clinic overnight.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Obstructive sleep apnea and the eye: The ophthalmologist’s role.
2012;250(11):1681-1688. doi:10.1007/s00417-012-1982-z
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.
Optometrists connection.Can sleep apnea affect your eyes?.
2016;9(3):125-134. doi:10.4103/0974-620X.192261
