xPAP and Deteriorating Vision

[Colin Southern]

Hi Folks,

Since starting treatment 226 days ago I've noticed a fairly small but none-the-less definate deterioration in both my near and far vision. The near vision could possibly (probably?) be simply due to aging (48 as I write this), but it's the deterioration in the far vision that's got me thinking. I accept that it could also be aging related, but the degree and the timing corresponds exactly with aPAP use.

My thought is that the small but steady pressure from the headgear for 8 hours a day could be slowly & slightly changing the shape of my face (inc eye sockets) - much the same as dental braces slowly but surely reposition teeth.

Just wondering if any others have noticed any changes in this area, or have come across any data relating to this?

Many thanks,

Cheers,

Colin

[nightjar]

Hello, Colin.

I can't say if there's a connection between your CPAP use and your deteriorating vision, but there have been other posts recently of links between CPAP and various eye problems. I've also read that there are some links between obstructive sleep apnea and vision problems--for instance, folks with OSA tend to suffer from central serous retinopathy at a higher rate than the general population (or is it the other way around?). I was diagnosed with CSR six years before I was diagnosed with OSA, though which came first, I can't say.

Anyway, if you haven't done so already, you might want to check with your eye doctor and see just what's going on with your vision.

And do a search of the posts on this forum to see what you can find--I'll bet there's something there that might help.

Good luck,

nath

[allend]

Do you wear glass and possibly progressives? If so, maybe your glasses need to be tightened and bent back into shape. I have to have the optician re-adjust mine every few months.

[Wulfman]

Have you been checked for Diabetes? Quite a few people who have Sleep Apnea also have Diabetes. Diabetes can cause Retinopathy. Have you had a glaucoma test? Sleep Apnea can lead to high blood pressure and that can affect the eyes.

Den

[Pirateghost]

I went in for my annual eye check after almost a year of APAP. My vision actually improved (distance). My near vision didn't change.

[Goofproof]

Your eyes and body have aged 226 days since you started XPAP treatment. If you are having problems with or without XPAP, you need to see the eye Doctor and get it sorted out. Higher blood pressure from no XPAP treatment is likely to cause more eye problems, as was the years of being untreated. Eye care should not be ignored, nor any other health care. Even the best XPAP treatment won't return you to the age of 21, unless you are 20 now. Jim

[Colin Southern]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I've discussed it with my optician at length, but (like me) has very little experience to draw on with a postulation like this. Blood pressure is normal and I'm -ve for diabeties.

Interestingly, recently I swapped out the lenses in my reading glasses for progressive lenses (that would also correct the distance issue), but I've now given up on them and gone back to 2 seperate pair of glasses - the progressives had one (and only one) location that made vision sharper, but at the expense of making every other area worse - we tried 3 variations, but just couldn't get it right - ironically, probably because the corrections I need are relatively small (but as a photographer, I WANT sharp vision).

It's probably just the fact that I'm getting old - hard for me to say, as I've never been this old before!

Thanks for your input.

Cheers,

Colin