Sleep

Sleep Apnea and Vision
Sleep is even more important than you think. A bad nights sleep might make you irritable but a bad sleep pattern is definitely going to affect your vision and overall health. Over 26 million Americans have some sleep disturbance and many of them actually have sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

There are many ocular conditions that are associated with OSA. These include: dry eyes, floppy lids, blepharitis, increasing keratoconus, glaucoma, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, optic neuropathy and pseudo tumor of the brain. Systemic associations with OSA are the metabolic syndrome, tendency to diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death. All of these conditions, including dying in your sleep, can be avoided by recognizing sleep disturbance early. Since the eye is a window into the body,  the ophthalmologist is often the first physician to recognize sleep disorders.

There are multiple sleep centers around the country now and sleep science is becoming a recognized specialty in medicine. Sometimes you just need a better mattress and pillow. Turning off your computer and television an hour before you go to sleep has been proven to stabilize melatonin levels and help people fall asleep easier. Sleep conditions may also be due to your weight, your nasal structure or other various physical conditions. It’s best to know the options and seek help for you or your loved ones.