Ocular disorders associated with obstructive sleep apnea: A review

Abstract

Recently there has been upsurge in the cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with increased prevalence of obesity in the general population. It has been continuously proved that OSA and metabolic syndrome go hand in hand and hence OSA predisposes an individual to a series of cardio-vascular disorders like ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia etc. In this article we have emphasized the possibility of ocular involvement in OSA patients. Several studies have shown ocular associations like floppy eye lid syndrome, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, papilledema, keratoconus, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy etc. Through this review, we would like to highlight the ophthalmological associations of OSA, their pathogenesis and outcome with the treatment of OSA.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

“…OSA is associated with major cardiovascular disorders (like systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension), neuropsychiatric sequelae (like depression, impaired fine motor conditions, and impaired vigilance) as well as metabolic and endocrine disorders (like diabetes mellitus). 2,8,53,54 In our study 10 patients had hypertension, 12 patients had diabetes mellitus and 8 patients had both hypertension and diabetes. However, these patients had RNFLT not significantly different from the rest of our cohort (Table 5), which implied that these factors did not have an influence in skewing the direction of RNFLT thinning.…”

“…Several ocular disorders are associated with OSA, including floppy eyelid syndrome, glaucoma, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, papilledema, thyroid eye disease, papillary conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal punctate epitheliopathy, dry eye syndrome, and keratoconus 2,3. Some of these ocular associations have irreversible visual outcomes.…”

Association of sleep and sleep disorders with glaucoma

“…OSA presents with excessive and uncontrolled day time sleepiness, persistent irritable mood, memory loss, fatigue and morning headaches. [35][36][37] Patient's attendant frequently complaints of choking, snoring or cessation of respiration while sleeping which go un-noticed by the patient usually.…”