Can Sleep Apnea Cause Blindness?

Throughout the U.S., millions of people are afflicted by blindness or severe vision impairment. For some of these individuals, cataracts, an accident, or another unfortunate circumstance led to their disability. For others, however, the root cause of their vision problems is diabetic retinopathy. Certainly, making efforts to manage their condition can help diabetics to reduce their risk of blindness. An additional step they can take is to get high-quality sleep. This blog post discusses the link between eye problems in individuals with diabetes and sleep apnea in Boca Raton.

Sleep Apnea and Diabetic Retinopathy

Retinopathy is a problem characterized by damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the area near the back of the eye that responds to light. Eventually, retinopathy can lead into macular edema (a buildup of fluid in the retina). In turn, the edema causes distortions in important eye tissues that result in blindness or vision impairment. Retinopathy is a common problem among individuals with uncontrolled diabetes.

There is a strong correlation between sleep apnea, diabetic retinopathy, and macular edema. In fact, a study conducted in Taiwan found that the rate of severe sleep apnea was twice as high in patients with macular edema compared to those without eye problems. They also found that the worse the sleep apnea was, the more severe the macular edema became.

How Does Sleep Apnea Cause Vision Problems?

It is unlikely that sleep apnea can directly cause eye problems in diabetics. However, it can be a major contributing factor. For example, sleep apnea is often correlated with high blood pressure, which can easily damage delicate blood vessels in the eyes. Additionally, it has been found that people with sleep apnea tend to find it more difficult to manage their type 2 diabetes.

What You Can Do

If you believe that poor-quality sleep may be increasing your risk of blindness in Boca Raton, there are some practical things you can do to protect your vision:

• If you have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, ask your doctor to help you arrange for a sleep test.
• Once you receive a diagnosis, learn about your treatment options. Many patients find that a custom oral appliance from a dentist is the most convenient way to manage their condition.
• Consistently use your treatment. Most people notice improvements in the quality of their sleep soon after they begin using an oral appliance.
• Work closely with your primary care practitioner to manage your overall health.

Sleep apnea can endanger your health in numerous ways — it can even affect your eyes. By doing your best to get high-quality sleep each night, you may be able to preserve your vision.

Meet the Sleep Apnea Expert

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He focuses on helping patients find relief from sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. If you suspect you have a sleep disorder or want to learn more about your treatment options, he and our team would be pleased to serve you at any of our three convenient locations. Give us a call at 561-353-5252 to ask questions or schedule a consultation.