Ocular Surface Assessment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

To evaluate the prevalence of dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and conjunctivochalasis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

We included 37 patients diagnosed with OSA according to polysomnography. The control group comprised 31 subjects. The study participants underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and ocular surface assessment. Meibography was done using infrared imaging. Furthermore, tear meniscus height was measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

The mean age of the OSA and control groups were 50.3 ± 9.0 and 50.3 ± 8.0, respectively (P = 0.77). The mean scale for meibomian gland expression, meibomian gland plugging, and lid margin telangiectasia was similar in both groups. The meiboscores of the upper and lower eyelids were similar in both groups (upper meiboscores of 0.67 ± 0.48 and 0.37 ± 0.49 in OSA and control group, P = 0.180 and lower meiboscores of were 0.47 ± 0.57 and 0.22 ± 0.42 in OSA and control group, P = 0.179). The mean tear break-up time (TBUT) was significantly lower in the OSA group (8.17 ± 3.70 compared to 11.47 ± 4.52, P < 0.001). Upper and lower tear meniscus height were 186.14 ± 40.11 μm and 199.59 ± 37.22 μm and 237.25 ± 82.86 μm and 218.59 ± 68.8 μm in OSA and control group, respectively (P = 0.221, P = 0.166). The mean conjunctivochalasis grading score was 0.92 ± 0.72 and 0.81 ± 0.65 in the OSA and control groups, respectively (P = 0.143).

Despite decreased TBUT in patients with OSA, other dry eye parameters are not altered in these patients. Moreover, the frequency of MGD and conjunctivochalasis is not higher in OSA patients.