A new study suggests a surprising link between sleep apnea and a leading cause of vision loss. Researchers from the Center for Eye Research Australia (CERA) have found that moderate-too-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, may increase the risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Published in the journal Clinical and Experimental ophthalmology, the study sheds light on a potential modifiable risk factor for this debilitating eye disease. The research team, led by professor Robyn Guymer AM and including University of Melbourne master’s student Attiqa Chaudhary, investigated the connection between OSA and AMD in 225 participants over the age of 50.
Using home-based finger oximeters, the researchers monitored participants’ oxygen levels over three nights. They discovered that individuals with moderate-to-severe OSA, who experience lower oxygen levels during sleep, were more likely to have wet AMD compared to those without the sleep disorder.
““Like AMD, sleep apnea mainly affects people over the age of 50 and many people don’t realize they have it,”” said dr. Carla Abbott, a co-supervisor of the study. ““If this association is validated it may well be worth asking people with high-risk early stages of AMD if they have any symptoms suggestive of OSA,as treating OSA might reduce the risk of AMD.””
The retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, requires a meaningful amount of oxygen, particularly at night. Researchers believe that the nocturnal hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, associated with OSA may damage the retina, contributing to the progress or progression of wet AMD.
This groundbreaking research opens up new avenues for preventing and managing AMD. Further studies are underway to confirm these findings and explore whether treating sleep apnea can slow vision loss in individuals at risk.
New research suggests a potential link between sleep apnea and an increased risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. The study, conducted by the Centre for Eye Research Australia, found a correlation between nocturnal hypoxia, a condition characterized by low oxygen levels during sleep, and the development of wet AMD.
Nocturnal hypoxia often occurs in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where the airway becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep, disrupting breathing and reducing oxygen intake. “The retina is very active at night—it has its highest need for energy while it recovers from the day,” explains Dr. Carla Abbott, lead author of the study. “A lack of oxygen overnight can cause various health issues over time, and the light-sensitive retina in the eye may be particularly sensitive to small drops in oxygen levels.”
The study, part of the larger Synergy High Risk AMD Study, involved 225 participants aged 50 and older. Researchers used overnight pulse oximetry recordings to measure oxygen levels during sleep and multimodal imaging to classify AMD severity. They found that participants with OSA, indicated by an oxygen desaturation index (ODI) of 5 or higher, were more likely to have wet AMD, a more severe form of the disease characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.
“If people aren’t currently getting treatment, it’s putting them at risk over years of not sleeping properly and having low oxygen at night, which could be a contributing factor to AMD, in particular wet AMD,” says Dr. Abbott.
While the study highlights a potential association, further research is needed to confirm a causal link and determine the clinical significance of treating sleep apnea in reducing the risk of wet AMD. Currently, known risk factors for AMD include smoking, diet, age, and genetics.
Dr. Abbott emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of sleep apnea. “Many people diagnosed with sleep apnea use a CPAP device at night,which helps them breathe easier by providing a constant flow of air through a mask.Treating OSA might reduce the risk of developing wet AMD.”
This research sheds light on a perhaps modifiable risk factor for wet AMD, offering hope for preventive measures and improved vision outcomes for individuals at risk.
About this Visual Neuroscience Research News
Table of Contents
Author: Carla Abbott
Source: Centre for Eye Research Australia
Contact: Carla abbott – Centre for Eye Research Australia
Image: Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Nocturnal hypoxia and age‐related macular degeneration” by Attiqa Chaudhary et al.Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Abstract
Nocturnal hypoxia and age‐related macular degeneration
Background
Nocturnal hypoxia is common, under-diagnosed and is found in the same demographic at risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The objective of this study was to determine any association between nocturnal hypoxia and AMD, its severity, and the high-risk sub-phenotype of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD).
Methods
This cross-sectional study included participants aged ≥50 years with AMD, or normal controls, exclusive of those on treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. all participants had at home, overnight (up to 3 nights) pulse oximetry recordings and multimodal imaging to classify AMD.Classification of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was resolute based on oxygen desaturation index [ODI] with mild having values of 5–15 and moderate-to-severe >15.
Results
A total of 225 participants were included with 76% having AMD, of which 42% had coexistent RPD. Of the AMD participants, 53 rn
A new study suggests a potential link between a common sleep disorder and a serious eye condition. Researchers found that individuals with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have an increased risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
The study, which examined the relationship between OSA and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), involved a group of participants with varying degrees of AMD severity. “30% had geographic atrophy (GA) and 17% had neovascular AMD (nAMD),” the researchers noted. While mild or moderate-to-severe OSA was not associated with an overall increased risk of AMD, a significant connection emerged when looking specifically at nAMD.
Individuals with moderate-to-severe OSA were found to have a 6.35 times higher likelihood of developing nAMD compared to those without the sleep disorder. This association held true even after adjusting for other potential risk factors. “Moderate-to-severe OSA was associated with increased odds of having nAMD (odds ratio = 6.35; 95% confidence interval = 1.18 to 34.28; p = 0.032), but not early/intermediate AMD or GA, compared to controls (p ≥ 0.130),” the study authors reported.
Mild OSA, on the other hand, did not appear to be linked to any increased risk of AMD. “Mild OSA was not associated with differences in odds of having AMD of any severity (p ≥ 0.277),” the researchers stated.
nocturnal Hypoxia: A Potential Culprit?
The study also highlighted the role of nocturnal hypoxia, a condition characterized by low oxygen levels during sleep, as a potential contributing factor. “There was an association between nocturnal hypoxia as measured by the ODI and nAMD,” the researchers observed. “Hence, nocturnal hypoxia may be an under-appreciated significant modifiable risk factor for nAMD.”
These findings suggest that addressing OSA, particularly moderate to severe cases, could potentially play a role in reducing the risk of developing nAMD. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms linking OSA and nAMD.
this article explores the potential link between sleep apnea and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
**Hear are the key takeaways:**
* **correlation found:** The study suggests a correlation between nocturnal hypoxia (low oxygen levels during sleep), often associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the advancement of wet AMD.
* **Mechanism:** Researchers believe that the reduced oxygen levels during sleep in individuals with OSA may damage the retina, which needs a importent amount of oxygen, particularly at night.This damage could contribute to the development or progression of AMD.
* **Potential for Prevention:** If further research confirms a causal link, treating sleep apnea could possibly reduce the risk of developing wet AMD.
* **Further Research Needed:** While promising, more research is required to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship and determine the clinical significance of treating sleep apnea in preventing AMD.
* **Early Detection is Crucial:** The study emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of sleep apnea.
**Important points to remember:**
* This is a preliminary study suggesting a correlation,not definitive proof of causation.
* Known risk factors for AMD include smoking, diet, age, and genetics.
**The article highlights a potential modifiable risk factor for AMD, offering hope for preventive measures and improved vision outcomes for individuals at risk.**
