sleep apnea

Eye Disorder Warns of Sleep Apnea

Submitted by Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine
oor sleep can impair your bodys ability to restore and renew itself. If you continually have poor sleep or wake up not feeling rested, you could have a sleep disorder. One of the most common sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), affecting over 20 mil(Insert) lion people in the United States alone, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep Apnea literally means cessation of breath for 10 seconds or more while sleeping. Symptoms may include snoring, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, and waking up choking or gasping for air. If this happened only occasionally, it might not be as alarming and detrimental to the sleepers health. But the reality for some individuals is that it can and does happen hundreds of times per night, making it hard to get any sleep at all. Untreated OSA can make you more likely to suffer illness or injury. It has been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even death. A: Shows a person with mild floppy eyelid syndrome where the eyelid can be pulled back exposing A study from the Ophthalmolthe inner lining of the eyelid (Insert: comparison with a normal eye). B: Shows a person with floppy ogy journal is now showing a strong eyelid syndrome where you can see the heavy upper eyelid and eyelashes that point down. relation between obstructive sleep apnea and an eye condition known Treatment options for OSA may include lifestyle changes, as floppy eyelid syndrome (FES). Researchers found that about surgery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oral one-third of FES patients also have OSA. The correlation was so appliance therapy. great that the Handbook of Ocular Disease Management recom Oral appliance therapy has proven to be a very viable and scienmends that people who are diagnosed with FES should also receive tifically based treatment option for OSA. The American Academy of a sleep study to rule out OSA. Sleep Medicine issued a statement in the 2006 journal SLEEP that People with FES often experience very elastic rubbery eyelids oral appliance therapy was approved as the first line of treatment that are easily inverted. The extra loose tissue surrounding the eye for those suffering from mild to moderate OSA, and in many cases can sometimes spontaneously evert (or turn upward) when the perproving to be effective for severe sleep apnea as well. The purpose son is sleeping, causing dry, red, or swollen eyes. Other symptoms of the oral appliance is to hold the jaw in a position that allows the include mucous discharge (worse in the morning), frequent infecairway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep, says tions, sleep disturbances, and morning headaches. Eyelashes may Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine. Oral turn inward and rub against the eye, irritating and possibly damaging appliances are similar to athletic mouth guards, but less bulky and the cornea, which can lead to vision loss. FES is most common in completely non-invasive, he continues. Oral sleep appliances are overweight, middle-aged men, but can be seen in women and those covered by most medical insurances and Medicare. with normal weight. If you feel that you suffer from FES, please contact your eye care For more information, contact Dr. Rod Willey at the Illinois Instispecialist for further details and be sure to discuss symptoms of tute of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a general dentist and Diplomate of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with your healthcare professional. Treatthe Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines, Dr. Willey has ment for FES may involve using a lubrication gel and use of an limited his practice to the treatment of snoring, sleep apnea, and eye shield to protect the eyelids during sleep. Surgery to repair the TMJ Disorders with oral appliance therapy. To contact them, call eyelids may also be necessary. Weight loss and treating obstructive 309-565-8149 or visit IllinoisSleepDoc.com. sleep apnea have also shown to decrease FES severity.
Page 28 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria September 2013