Retinal sensitivity is reduced in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE. To evaluate the outcomes of standard automated perimetry (SAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS. Eighty OSA patients and 111 age-matched controls were consecutively and prospectively enrolled. One eye per subject was randomly selected. All participants underwent at least one reliable SAP (24-2 SITA Standard algorithm). The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) was measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients with OSA were classified into three groups according to the apnea/hypopnea index: mild, moderate, or severe OSA. Parameters of SAP and OCT were compared between healthy controls and OSA patients. Correlation of apnea/hypopnea index with OCT and SAP measurements were calculated. RESULTS. Mean age, best-corrected visual acuity, and central corneal thickness were similar between groups. Intraocular pressure, however, was lower in the OSA group. Mean deviation of SAP was -0.23 +/- 0.8 dB in the control group and -1.74 +/- 2.8 dB in the OSA group (P < 0.001). Thickness of RNFL measured with OCT did not differ significantly between groups. Patients with OSA showed reduced sensitivity at most points tested by white-on-white perimetry compared with healthy individuals. The threshold values were more depressed in the peripheral visual field. The apnea/hypopnea index was related to the SAP indices: Pearson correlations were -0.432 with mean deviation, 0.467 with pattern standard deviation, and -0.416 with the visual field index (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Patients with OSA exhibited reduced retinal sensitivity measured with SAP compared with healthy controls.