The prevalence of glaucoma in patients with sleep apnea syndrome: same as in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
An association of glaucoma and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) has been widely reported. We investigated the largest group of patients with SAS thus far to determine the prevalence of glaucoma among these patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
An institutional study.


METHODS
A total of 228 patients with SAS.


METHODS
Sleep studies determined the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) during night sleep. Ocular examination included intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, optic disk evaluation, and Humphrey visual field examination.


METHODS
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 disk 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% to 5%). There was no correlation between RDI and the presence of glaucoma (chi-square = 1.18; degrees of freedom = 2; P =.6) or between the RDI and the IOP (r = -0.067; P =.316).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of glaucoma in SAS patients was similar to that in the general Caucasian population.
Geyer
Orna
O
Department of Ophthalmology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. drgo@netvision.net.il
Cohen
Nahum
N
Segev
Eitan
E
Rath
Eitan Z
EZ
Melamud
Lina
L
Peled
Ron
R
Lavie
Peretz
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D014794:Visual Fields