Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to identify the effect of oxygen desaturation due to comparing ganglion cell complex (GCC), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) between patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), simple snoring and healthy individuals.132 total patients with OSAS and simple snoring who were diagnosed with polysomnography between 2016 -2018 and 88 healthy individuals were included in the prospective-case control study. The patients were grouped according to the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). Healthy volunteers and the patients with simple snoring (the AHI index value lower than 5) were grouped as respectively Group 1(G1) and Group 2 (G2). Groups 3 to 5 were separated according to the AHI index as mild OSAS (Group 3 (G3); AHI=5-15), moderate OSAS (Group 4(G4);AHI=16-30), and severe OSAS (Group 5(G5); AHI>30). All study participants underwent an examination of both eyes including corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, dilated-pupil fundus examination, with RNFL and GCC thickness which were measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Of the 132 patients included in the study, 29 had simple snoring, 22 mild, 22 moderate, and 57 severe OSAS. When bilateral mean, superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal RNFL thickness and mean, superior and inferior GCC values were compared among the study groups; no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.005). No significant difference was evaluated between mean RNFL thickness, four quadrants RNFL thicknesses, mean GCC thickness, two quadrants GCC thickness with OCT in the study patients. Indeed, because the patients with diagnosed OSAS could more likely to develop glaucoma, it would be appropriate for these patients to have a regular optic examination.