Original Paper · Travail original · Originalarbeit

Normal-Tension Glaucoma Is Associated with Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Daniel S. Mojon^a,b, Christian W. Hess^c, David Goldblum^b, Matthias Boehnke^b, Fritz Koerner^b, Matthias Gugger^d, Claudio Bassetti^c, Johannes Mathis<sup>c

a</sup>Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Kantonsspital St.Gallen and Departments of
^bOphthalmology,
^cNeurology, and
^dPneumology, University of Bern, Inselspital, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2002;216:180-184 (DOI: 10.1159/000059625)

  Key Words

• Sleep apnea syndrome
• Normal-tension glaucoma
• Vascular risk factors

  Abstract

Introduction: In normal-tension glaucoma, optic nerve damage occurs without elevated intraocular pressures, hence vascular and pathogenic mechanisms other than intraocular pressure effects have been postulated. However, the exact cause(s) remain unknown. We have looked for an association between normal-tension glaucoma and sleep apnea syndrome, a disease characterized by repetitive upper airway obstructions during sleep, inducing hypoxia and sleep disruption with the risk of late cardiovascular and neurological sequelae. Methods: We performed overnight polysomnography in 16 consecutive Caucasian patients with normal-tension glaucoma. The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) during night sleep was used to diagnose and grade obstructive sleep apnea. Patients with an RDI of 10 or more were diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea. Results: We observed the following prevalences of obstructive sleep apnea in normal-tension glaucoma patients: 0% (0 of 2) for the group of patients younger than 45 years, 50% (3 of 6) for the age group 45-64 years, and 63% (5 of 8) for the group older than 64 years. Prevalences in the middle and older age group were significantly higher than in a historic control group (p < 0.025 for both, binomial test). Conclusion: Normal-tension glaucoma patients constitute a high-risk population for sleep apnea syndrome. Therefore, they should be screened for sleep apnea syndrome, and, if necessary, be treated to avoid late cardiovascular and neurological sequelae.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Daniel S. Mojon, MD
Director, Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Kantonsspital St. Gallen
CH-9007 St. Gallen (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 71 494 2837, Fax +41 71 494 2882, E-Mail daniel.mojon@kssg.ch

  Article Information

Received: Received: February 26, 2001
Accepted after revision: September 20, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 26