A recently published study has evaluated the medical records
of 1,000 people over the age of 40 who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and
compared them to the records of a control group of 6,000 people without this
common sleeping disorder.
Published in the August issue of Ophthalmology, this study was focused on the relationship between
sleep apnea and vision disorders, and a relationship indeed was found. In fact,
this study found that people who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are 1.67
times more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma within five years of their
diagnosis than those who had not been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Dangers
of sleep apnea such as mood disorders, chronic fatigue, and even increased
risks for heart failure have all been well documented, but this is the first
study to focus exclusively on sleep apnea and vision. Because glaucoma is
painless and causes a gradual loss of vision, it can often rob a person of
sight before they are aware they have the disease. If you have been diagnosed
with sleep apnea, it is important that you work with a sleep specialist to help
treat the disorder and prevent serious and life-altering consequences.
Please contact
an experienced sleep apnea physician in your area today to schedule an
initial treatment consultation.