Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea patients is associated with a higher incidence of visual field defect

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 38 - 42
• Main Authors: Tsang, C S L, Chong, S L, Ho, C K, Li, M F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.01.2006; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; clinical-study; Diseases of visual field, optic nerve, optic chiasma and optic tracts; Female; Glaucoma - etiology; Glaucoma - pathology; Humans; Incidence; Laboratory Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Ophthalmology; Optic Disk - pathology; Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology; Pneumology; Polysomnography; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Scotoma - etiology; Scotoma - pathology; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - complications; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - pathology; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Visual Field Tests; Visual Fields; optic neuropathy; optic disc; visual field; obstructive sleep apnoea; Human; Nervous system diseases; Sleep apnea syndrome; Optic neuropathy; Respiratory disease; Visual field; Incidence; Eye disease; Cranial nerve disease; Association; Visual field disease; Visual field defect; Ophthalmology; Optic papilla; Severe
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.eye.6701785

Purpose To compare the visual fields (VFs) and optic nerve head changes between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in normotensive patients and an age-matched non-OSA population. Design Case–control study. Participants A total of 41 ethnic Chinese patients diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA referred from the Sleep Laboratory, ENT Department, Tuen Mun Hospital. A total of 35 age–matched non-OSA subjects recruited from the Ophthalmology Department, North District Hospital. Methods Comprehensive ophthalmological and systemic history, complete ophthalmological examination, including central-30 computerized perimetry for all studied patients. Main outcome measures Polysomnographic data, VF indices, optic disc changes Results In the OSA arm, VF indices were significantly subnormal and the incidence of suspicious glaucomatous disc changes was four times higher than that of the control arm. None of the studied patients suffered from any form of anterior segment complications. Conclusions Moderate to severe OSA is associated with a higher incidence of VF defect and glaucomatous optic nerve changes.