Investigation of the Presence of Glaucoma in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Using and Not Using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of glaucoma in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using and not using continuous positive airway pressure treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 59 patients diagnosed with OSAS based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). OSAS patients were divided into 3 groups according to their AHI scores: 5-15 was considered mild (19 patients), 16-30 was considered moderate (16 patients), and >30 (24 patients) was considered severe. Twenty-eight (47.5%) of the OSAS patients had been using continuous positive airway pressure treatment. The control group included 19 healthy subjects. Retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness analyses were performed. RESULTS: Average GCC thickness in left eyes was significantly lower in the mild OSAS group than in the control group (p=0.013). The GCC was significantly thinner in the inferior and inferonasal sectors of both eyes in the mild OSAS group compared to the control group (p=0.029, p=0.022, p=0.037, and p=0.019 respectively). Minimum GCC thickness in the left eyes of all OSAS groups was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In OSAS patients, there may be changes in retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness before alterations in the visual field emerge.