OSA and eye focus

nmevan wrote:greetings

I was diagnosed with severe OSA about 6 months ago and have been on cpap for the last 5 months

I have probably had OSA for at least the last 15 years and I am now 54

since a few weeks prior to the initial OSA diagnosis my eyes started taking a longer time to focus when I turned my head (which is why I went to my doctor in the first place)

I have never worn glasses and my eye doc says I don't need them, except for the lowest power reading glasses

the focus lag time makes me feel unstable, almost dizzy...and in turn leads to what feels like panic attacks every time it happens

when I am jolted by the surprise and fear of my eyes not instantly focusing, my brain hits the panic button and secretes some type of fight or flight hormone or chemical ... and it feels a lot like an anxiety attack

I feel that this is directly related to my OSA, but without any real proof

I was hoping it would clear up with the use of cpap, but it has yet to

has anyone experienced such a thing or can anyone shed some light as to what might be happening and more importantly, how to cure it?

thank you

evan

Does the speed at which you turn your head affect your focus? If it only happen when you turn you head quickly, it could be an inner ear issue that's affecting your balance and your eyesight.

I have experienced problems with the focus of my left eye since March 2007. After numerous tests and lots of money, no real answer was found as to why my problem occurs. I have only recently been diagnosed with OSA, and PLMS, so for me this is still a work in progress. I do not believe my eye problem is related to OSA, with the exception of excessive eye watering first thing in the morning. I was diagnosed with an eye allergy, which shows up more frequently during this time of the year with pollen.
However, I do believe, though no doctor has confirmed this, my sinuses swell, putting pressure on my eye. But like most things, I have the symptoms until I get into the doctor's office.

I've had that shift in focus problem for years. For me, it is connected to the eyes being tired and to me being overall tired too. Do you do a lot of reading? Staring at the computer? If you do either, try to make sure that every few minutes you switch focus to something further away (ex. look out a window) and get up from your close work once an hour and have a walk around.

It is worth looking into an ear problem, too, given that you have issues that way, too.

thank you to everyone for you input!

someone asked

Does your inability to focus correlate at all with your subjective sense of fatigue, how late in the day it is, your AHI, etc? Also, is it always hard to focus, or does it come and go. If it comes and goes, how long does it last?

yes...I think it does correlate to fatigue...often it is worse in the late afternoon

it is not always hard to focus
it only lasts a brief moment

it is also bad when I start to space out, staring at nothing, then suddenly I become aware and jerk my head in a fit of panic...but that too only lasts a brief moment

as for my AHI's, I have to figure out a way to get them down...they average between 6.5 and 8...I am going to try a mask that just goes over my nose, instead of my FFM, even though my pressure goes as high as 13


Another question: When you can't focus, does it make you more nearsighted, more farsighted, or limit your range on both ends?
Top

the answer is it doesn't change my depth perception

thanks again to everyone

evan

Evan, your symptoms are very much like mine. I started with headaches, especially in the morning, and mild dizziness. My eyes seemed to be constantly changing, and I had my eyes rechecked several times. Had my glasses changed twice. Since then I've been to a Neurologist and had two MRI's. Been to a Neuro-Opthamologist. Been assessed by a Balance/Hearing facility. Have had a complete cardiac assessment. All tests indicated I was in excellent health. But the headaches and dizziness persisted rather sporadically - in other words, I'd be fine for a couple of months, then the headaches and dizziness would recurr for a few weeks. My wife suggested that I go for a sleep study because I snore so much. My family doctor disagreed because I'm not overweight and didn't "fit the picture." However, the sleep lab appointment was made, and it seems I didn't do to well; severe apnea was the diagnosis; some 50 events per hour. So I've been on CPAP for three weeks, pressure set at 10.
I'll be back in the sleep lab again in another week, we'll see what happens. As for the symptoms, I'm not nearly as tired as I had been for years. No more headaches. I'm not sure my vision is entirely stable yet, but it's not bad. My wife says I'm not as "grumpy" as I was, but she hasn't heard what I mutter in the night about the CPAP mask! I truly hope this is the answer, and that I'll feel 100% again some day.
I didn't post any equipment as I'm using a borrowed F&P CPAP, I've tried three different masks so far; have a new Resmed s9 coming later this week.
Paul

I can't say for a FACT (and reading through these posts, lemme be clear on what I'm answering... You're asking if your eye focusing slower is because of your lack of sleep? If that's not it exactly, that's what I'm answering anyways )uhm, anyways, I noticed for a long time my eye sight would get very out of focus later at night, worse and worse. I made an eye appointment, I asked if it could be related to lack of sleep, the optometrist stated a strong NO. We went through all the eye tests, and he said 'your eyes are perfect. It might just be from lack of sleep.'
at the time, (while I WAS using my machine, I was actually only allowing myself 4-5 hours sleep a night, and not sleeping well those 4-5 hours.) I got a new mask, and gave myself a longer period to sleep, and my vision cleared up... SO, while I have no PROOF more sleep was the cure, or that it'll work for anyone else, it DID for me.....

If I were the OP; I would get to an opthalmologist--right away!
I only have difficulty focusing when I am extremely tired--but eyesight is priceless--be sure; don't guess.