The association of primary open-angle glaucoma / normal tension glaucoma and obstructive sleep apnea in Thai patients

Abstract

Backgrouds: The association of glaucoma and OSA has been published in many reports. Previous study by Mojon et al demonstrated that repeated hypoxia may affect the development of ganglion cell loss. However, it remains unclear whether glaucoma is association with OSA. Thus, objective of this study is to determine the association of primary open-angle glaucoma / normal tension glaucoma and obstructive sleep apnea in Thai patients.

Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients consecutively admitted for polysomnographic evaluation of suspected obstructive sleep apnea were performed complete ophthalmologic examination. The association between glaucoma and OSA was determined by the Chi-square test and Pearson correlation. P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Forty-four of the eighty-six patients (51.16 %) who had an AHI higher than 10 and were diagnosed with OSA. Eighteen of them had mild OSA, twelve patients had moderated OSA and fourteen patients had severe OSA. The prevalence of glaucoma in normal group was 7.14 %(3/42). The prevalence of glaucoma in patients with OSA was 13.64%(6/44). There was no statistically significant correlation between presence of glaucoma and OSA. (Chi-square = 9.67; df  = 1; p-value = 0.325)

Conclusions: This study indicates that there is no statistically significant association between the presence of glaucoma and OSA in Thai patients. Therefore, the screening for glaucoma in patients with OSA might not be necessary unless further data of the relationship is present.