Sleep Apnea — When Not Sleeping Becomes Dangerous For Your Eyes

If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, pay attention to your eyes. This serious sleep disorder can affect your eye health.

Literally a “pause in breathing,” sleep apnea blocks regular breathing during sleep. It leads to frequent waking and gasping for air—often without the person even noticing it. These repeated sleep interruptions prevent the eyes from getting the rest and hydration they need to function properly during the day. 

Minor eye and vision irritations such as dry, itchy eyes, eye spasms or blurred vision can be the first symptoms of long-lasting sleep issues. They are annoying, but relatively harmless.

However, untreated, prolonged sleep apnea has been linked to a number of health problems, including serious eye conditions such as:

• Floppy eyelid syndrome, AKA crusty eyes that continues over a long period of time
• Chronic blurred vision or keratoconus, chronic blurred vision that can’t be corrected with glasses
• Glaucoma, the loss of partial or complete vision due to pressure buildup inside the eye.

The exact link between sleep apnea and glaucoma isn’t fully understood or established yet, but you should mention persistent sleepiness and irritability during your next eye exam so you can be screened for glaucoma.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea Can Lead to Dry Eyes

The most common way to treat sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, a pump connected to a mask that blows air into your throat to keep the airways open.

While CPAC pumps can be potentially life-saving, the air leaking or venting from such machines can cause dry-eye symptoms. In that case, artificial tears or gels and ointment designed for nighttime use provide relief.

With sleep apnea treatment, many eye-related symptoms may be reversed.

Schedule Regular Eye Exams

A healthy life often means a happy life. Schedule regular doctor check-ups for your eyes, teeth and overall health to spot and treat any developing health conditions early.

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