Blurry vision on awakening

I notice I cannot see well on waking up. I presume it is somehow related to using a full face mask (AirTouch F20 Mask Only - Medium) under high pressure (set at 18 inches for an automatic bipap), or possibly leakage from the mask. I have signs of too much fluid in the body (leg edema) and have been prescribed diuretics (lasix) for this.I am 77. Anyone have a guess as to what is going on, and a possible solution?

ProfessorEd wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:02 pm

I notice I cannot see well on waking up. I presume it is somehow related to using a full face mask under high pressure, or possibly leakage from the mask. I have signs of too much fluid in the body (leg edema) and have been prescribed diuretics (lasix) for this. Anyone have a guess as to what is going on, and a possible solution.?

sir, there isn't a lot of information to go on here.

could you tell us what machine and mask? what do you define as "high pressure"?

and i have no idea if lasix can have this side effect. if it were me this was happening to, i'd consult a doctor even if you you have to do a virtual visit.

good luck!

by mastahowie » Sun Dec 02, 2018 11:57 pm
Newbie to the forum here, but am an ophthalmologist so would like to weigh in. Really, this is a 2 part answer, as OSA itself is associated with various ocular disorders. OSA is associated with floppy eyelids, ischemic optic neuropathy, glaucoma, papilledema, and retinal problems. Think of it as a circulation problem. When blood oxygenation decreases, end organ damage occurs, including in the eye. See https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/obst ... ist-s-role for more details. With that regard, because CPAP use improves oxygenation, it should help with most of these ocular problems.

The 2nd part of the answer deals more directly with OP's original question. Can the treatment for OSA (CPAP use) cause vision problems? The most common problem I see in clinical practice is dry eyes from an air leak/poor mask fit. Even with a good mask fit, someone with floppy eyelids may have their eyelids open for a prolonged period of time during sleep (imagine how your eyes would feel if you were in a staring contest for a few hours). Symptoms of irritation/dryness/blurry vision are typically worst upon waking and improve throughout the day.

There is some controversy regarding whether CPAP use increases intraocular pressure (which is a risk factor for glaucoma). There are some studies that suggest it does, and others that show it does not. This opinion piece https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5588310/ does a good job summarizing the current data out there regarding that.

Aside from the above issues, OP's issue of blurry vision could possibly be unrelated to both OSA and CPAP use. A comprehensive exam is necessary to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.

This is the thread this post was taken from:

viewtopic/t109062/Can-CPAP-cause-vision ... 5#p1278240

JPB

I have blurry vision for a while in mornings also.

You may be getting a bit of air in your eyes overnight from the mask not sealing well, and you could use drops to help when you wake up, but you might also want to be sure your mask isn't leaking too much and try either re-adjusting it as you lie down, or possibly even using a 'liner' from Padacheek.com to help with small leaks. I might also want to look at Quartz 'sleep' masks as they have ones for cpap use - various ways to find them on Google.

See your eye doctor and rule out eye issues.
There is a remote chance that air can be sneaking up through the lacrimal ducts and causing eye issues.
Sometimes it's not mask leaking air...sometimes it's something else.

God gave us 2 eyes...take care of them and don't mess around with them if they don't seem to be functioning properly.
See your eye doctor to make sure nothing else is going on.

When was your last eye check up?
I know diabetics can have vision changes from the varying blood sugar because blood sugar impacts on water holding. It makes sense to me that a diuretic could have a similar impact, and blurred vision is listed as a side effect that usually goes away with time.
But vision changes can be a sign of all sorts of issues so i wouldn't ignore it.
And with that note, I always have blurry vision in the morning. For me, allergies.

I keep OTC artificial tears on my nightstand.
One drop in each eye and my vision improves drastically.
Dry eyes are a side effect of the rx eye drops I take to reduce intraocular pressure.
Some people get a bit of driness from random airflow from the mask.
No reason to stop cpap--just use eye drops.