Study links poor sleep quality to glaucoma

USA: People with poor sleep quality are at an increased risk for glaucoma and vice versa, finds a recent study published in the Journal of Glaucoma. Poor sleep parameters include abnormal sleep duration, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It is characterized by optic nerve degeneration and progressive peripheral vision loss. Degeneration occurs due to elevated intraocular pressure that causes changes in the iridocorneal angle.

Michael V. Boland, Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, and colleagues investigated the relationship between glaucoma and sleep in the US adults.

The researchers recruited 6784 glaucoma patients (aged 40 years and above) from the 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Predictors included sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep disorders, sleep disturbances, sleep medication use, and daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness.

Outcomes included disc defined glaucoma (either right or left disc demonstrating glaucomatous features) and visual field defects (VFDs).

Also Read: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea more likely to develop glaucoma

Key findings include:

• The odds of disc defined glaucoma were 3 times higher among subjects who slept for ≥10 hours per night compared with 7 hours per night.


• The odds of disc defined glaucoma were 2 times higher among subjects who fell asleep in ≤9 minutes and ≥30 minutes compared with 10 to 29 minutes.


• The odds of VFD were 3 times higher among subjects who slept for ≤3 hours per night and ≥10 hours per night, compared with 7 hours per night.


• The odds of VFD were 2 times higher among subjects who had difficulty remembering things and 3 times higher among subjects who had difficulty working on a hobby due to daytime sleepiness compared with those without difficulty.

Also Read: Study finds pillow as risk factor for Glaucoma

"This study revealed associations between glaucoma and abnormal sleep duration, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction; poor sleep parameters may be a risk factor or consequence of glaucoma.

To read the complete study log on to doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001169