Risk associated with sleep apnea that is not so well known

The lack of repeated oxygen every night and changes in blood pressure associated with Sleep apneas can alter blood circulation In the optical nerve and the retina, which could contribute to the characteristic ocular damage of glaucoma, explains the ophthalmologist in Miranza Gómez-ulla, Ulla, Fernando López.

Specifically, the specialist adds that it has been observed that runteing patients with apnea have a greater risk of developing the normotensive or low -ocular pressure glaucoma subtype, as well as Greater risk of experiencing disease worsening compared to those without respiratory disorders during sleep.

In this sense, intermittent hypoxia that It occurs during night episodestogether with the alterations of intracranial pressure and the decrease in blood flow to the optical nerve, they are mechanisms that could favor the progressive deterioration of the visual field in patients with or without prior diagnosis of glaucoma.

According to Mirenza, Glaucoma is one of the main causes of irreversible blindness and estimates that there could be more than 500,000 people affected in Spainof which more than 50% have not yet been diagnosed due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease in its initial phases.

The recognition of this relationship has important clinical implications. Ronconist patients with apnea could benefit from regular ophthalmological evaluations to detect early glaucoma and monitor disease progression. Similarly, those diagnosed with glaucoma could benefit from the evaluation of sleep respiratory disorders to address possible modifiable risk factors.

Therefore, Dr. López insists on The importance of multidisciplinary attention that integrates ophthalmological evaluation in the monitoring protocols of patients with apnea. “It is not just about controlling sleep, but also about protecting vision. Many of these patients do not have visual symptoms until the damage is irreversible.”

Thus, it affects the importance of Perform preventive ophthalmological exams In patients diagnosed with sleep apnea, especially if there is a family history of glaucoma or ocular hypertension.