Researchers at the Glaucoma Research Foundation are using innovative technologies to assess the connection between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). People diagnosed with OSAS experience repetitive episodes of paused and shallow breathing during sleep. NTG is a type of glaucoma where damage to the nerve of the eye (optic nerve) and visual field loss occurs despite eye pressures within established normal limits.
Findings from the Foundation's research so far show that while OSAS is associated with glaucoma, it does not seem to be be caused by an increase in eye pressure. Instead, it may be due to a drop in blood oxygen levels that is contributing to a degradation in the health of the optic nerve. You can read more by clicking this newswise link.