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PURPOSE: An association of glaucoma and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) has been widely reported. The authors investigated the largest group of patients with SAS thus far in order to determine the prevalence of glaucoma among them. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: An institutional study. STUDY POPULATION: A total of 228 patients with SAS. OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Sleep studies determined the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) during night sleep. Ocular examination included intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, optic disc evaluation, and Humphrey visual field examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The SAS was diagnosed as an RDI > 10. The RDI was graded to determine the severity of SAS: mild (RDI, 10-19), moderate (RDI, 20-39), and severe (RDI > 40). Open-angle glaucoma was diagnosed when a glaucomatous visual field defect matched the optic disc changes, irrespective of IOP levels. RESULTS: Nineteen participants had mild SAS (mean ± standard deviation, RDI = 15 ± 3), 129 had moderate SAS (RDI = 28 ± 5), and 80 had severe SAS (RDI = 54 ± 11). Open-angle glaucoma was found in five SAS subjects, a prevalence of 2% (95% confidence interval, 0.7-5%). There was no correlation between RDI and the presence of glaucoma (chi-square = 1.18; degrees of freedom = 2; p = 0.6) or between the RDI and the IOP (r = -0.067; p = 0.316). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of glaucoma in SAS patients was similar to that in the general Caucasian population.
Dr. O. Geyer, Department of Ophthalmology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. drgo@netvision.net.il
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)