Credit: Artursafronovvvv, Freepik

In the first of series of studies reviewing the links between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and eye disease, a Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) review found OSA was significantly associated with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, floppy eyelid syndrome, retinal vein occlusion, central serous chorioretinopathy, keratoconus and glaucoma.

Forty-nine studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, with only two diseases of the group assessed not meeting the team’s 95% confidence-association threshold: idiopathic intracranial hypertension and age-related macular degeneration. Ocular surface disease, which has previously been associated with OSA, was not assessed as part of this review.

“Clinicians should be informed of these associations so early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders can be addressed in at-risk groups, and early referral to ophthalmic services is made to prevent vision disturbances,” wrote the team in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. “Similarly, ophthalmologists seeing patients with any of these conditions should consider screening and referring patients for assessment of possible OSA.”