{"id":15301,"date":"2022-08-05T15:22:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T13:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=15301"},"modified":"2022-08-05T15:28:40","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T13:28:40","slug":"eye-opening-discovery-osa-causes-ocular-surface-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/eye-opening-discovery-osa-causes-ocular-surface-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye-Opening Discovery: OSA Causes Ocular Surface Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
We have some bad news for all those with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Namely, a new study found that OSA doesn\u2019t only affect your nose but your eyes as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Health conditions like eye redness, dysfunction of the oil glands (Meibomian glands), glaucoma, dry eye, and <\/span>floppy eye syndrome<\/b> (FES) are all more likely in OSA patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yet, what exactly <\/span>is <\/span><\/i>sleep apnea, and how does it affect the eyes?<\/span><\/p>\n This devious <\/span>breathing disorder<\/b> causes irregular breathing with short non-breathing intervals during sleep. Currently, some <\/span>22 million Americans have OSA<\/span><\/a>. However, many of those suffering from OSA don\u2019t even know it.<\/span><\/p>\n As for the link between OSA and eye health, scientists have found that OSA-induced hypoxia can cause considerable damage to the eyes and surrounding organs.<\/span><\/p>\n Over the course of the study, published in the journal <\/span>Nature and Science of Sleep, <\/span><\/i>181 OSA patients with no previous treatment were tested with polysomnography and regular eye check-ups. The data was then compared with a control group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The results revealed that <\/span>60% of those with severe OSA also had FES<\/b>, compared to merely <\/span>11.5%<\/span><\/a> of healthy individuals diagnosed with this syndrome. A person with FES has an exceptionally big and floppy top eyelid. Likewise, there\u2019s increased eye redness and irritation, even <\/span>blurred vision in extreme cases<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n OSA patients are also more likely to have dry eye, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (<\/span>NAION<\/span>), and other eye conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n