Prevalence of asymptomatic optic disc edema in patients with sleep apnea

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Optic disc edema has been reported to occur in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic optic disc edema in patients with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: We examined 85 consecutive patients who had been referred to a sleep laboratory for polysomnography. Direct ophthalmoscopic examination of the optic nerve heads was carried out prior to polysomnography, looking for evidence of disc edema. Patients were then divided into four groups based on outcome of polysomnography. Results: Of the 87 patients examined, 32 were found to have severe OSA, 22 with moderate OSA, 19 with mild OSA, and 14 with no OSA, based on results of polysomnography. No patients were found to have optic nerve edema. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that optic disc edema is an uncommon finding in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Keywords: neuro–ophthalmology: optic nerve • optic disc