Researchers with the Mayo Clinic have found that sleep apnea could raise the chances of developing glaucoma and other eye conditions, as well as a range of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders.
More than 12 million people currently suffer from sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts in the course of sleeping.
The most common form of the condition is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes throat muscles to relax, blocking airways. The Mayo Clinic study found that people with longer and more frequent episodes of OSA were more likely to contract both primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma. OSA was also tied to higher risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The study’s lead author, E. Andrew Waller, M.D., noted that eyes can often signal larger vascular problems. He added that understanding the linkages between sleep apnea and vision loss could be important to early diagnosis and treatment.
“For patients with OSA, a routine eye examination to evaluate for early signs of glaucoma, particularly in the setting of visual loss or change, should be recommended. Patients with ophthalmologic diseases known to be associated with sleep apnea should be screened clinically for sleep apnea and referred to a sleep center if signs or symptoms are present.”
