Does obstructive sleep apnea affect dry eye parameters?

Although patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a significantly lower tear break-up time (TBUT), other dry eye parameters, such as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and conjunctivochalasis, do not appear to be more prevalent or altered in these patients, according to a study.

The study included 37 patients with OSA and 31 controls, all of whom underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations, including meibography using infrared imaging and tear meniscus height measurements via anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

There were no significant differences between OSA and control groups in terms of meibomian gland expression, plugging, or lid margin telangiectasia. Meiboscores for both upper and lower eyelids were similar in both groups. However, the tear break-up time (TBUT) was significantly lower in the OSA group (8.17 ± 3.70 seconds compared to 11.47 ± 4.52 seconds in controls, P < 0.001). Tear meniscus height and conjunctivochalasis scores did not differ significantly between the groups.

Reference
Ghaffari R, Ghassemi H, Sadeghniiat Haghighi K, et al. Ocular Surface Assessment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. J Curr Ophthalmol. 2024;36(1):42-45. doi: 10.4103/joco.joco_173_23. PMID: 39553316; PMCID: PMC11567611.