{"id":91596460014,"date":"2025-11-18T06:59:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T05:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augenarzt-banyai.de\/blog\/general\/sleep-apnea-glaucoma-what-patients-should-know-dr-med-banyai-explains\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T10:23:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:23:48","slug":"sleep-apnea-glaucoma-what-patients-should-know-dr-med-banyai-explains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augenarzt-banyai.de\/en\/blog\/glaucoma\/sleep-apnea-glaucoma-what-patients-should-know-dr-med-banyai-explains\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep apnea & glaucoma: What patients should know \u2013 Dr. med. B\u00e1nyai explains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sleep apnea and glaucoma \u2013 two conditions that seem unrelated at first glance. But current findings in ophthalmology (<\/strong>eye medicine<\/strong>)<\/strong> show a clear connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly increased risk of developing glaucoma<\/strong> (<\/strong>green star<\/strong>)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we summarise what patients should know, what to look for, and how early diagnosis helps prevent long-term complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Glaucoma \u2013 Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is glaucoma?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Glaucoma, colloquially known as “green star”, is a chronic eye disease that causes gradual damage to the optic nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main cause is often an increase in eye pressure, medically referred to as intraocular pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even with normal pressure \u2014 as in normal-tension glaucoma \u2014 damage can occur, especially if the optic nerve’s blood supply is impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent visual field defects, vision loss, and ultimately blindness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the disease often causes no pain and can go unnoticed for years, regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about intraocular pressure<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is sleep apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Sleep apnea, in particular the sleep apnea syndrome with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)<\/a>, is a common disorder characterized by recurrent pauses in breathing during sleep. The airways become blocked by relaxed tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result: oxygen deficiency, restless sleep, daytime drowsiness, high blood pressure, and oxidative stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is estimated that millions of people in Germany are affected, many of them undiagnosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are sleep apnea and glaucoma related?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Numerous studies show that people with obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk of glaucoma \u2014 even without elevated intraocular pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? During pauses in breathing, the oxygen level in the blood drops, disrupting the blood supply to sensitive tissues such as the optic nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repeated hypoxia impairs neurons and promotes inflammatory processes \u2013 exacerbated by oxidative stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, fluctuations in intraocular pressure can occur during sleep \u2014 triggered by drops in blood pressure, changes in body position, and increased respiratory effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These pressure changes often go unnoticed but can contribute to optic nerve damage over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impaired vascular regulation in sleep apnea also leads to inadequate oxygenation of the optic nerve head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combination of pressure fluctuations, poor circulation, and inflammatory processes significantly increases the risk of normal-tension (normal-pressure) glaucoma or open-angle glaucoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recognize glaucoma symptoms<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What should patients with sleep apnea do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, you should have regular eye examinations, especially if you have additional risk factors such as a family history, high blood pressure, or already impaired vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important diagnostic tests:<\/h3>\n\n\n
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