Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, Ganglion Cell Complex and Choroidal Thickness Evaluation in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Purpose: To evaluate the association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL), Ganglion Cell Complex (GCC) and choroidal tissue thickness (CCT). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 patients with OSAS and 50 controls between July 2014-January 2015). OSAS severity was classified by using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). RNFL thickness, GCC thickness and CCT analyses were performed by optic coherence tomography (OCT). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows version 21 software. Results: The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of the patients with OSAS 16.1±1.37, the cup/disc (C/D) ratio was 0.45±0.17 and vertical C/D ratio was 0.43±0.16. The control group mean IOP was 15.2±1.03, the C/D ratio was 0.36±0.20 and vertical C/D ratio was 0.34±0.19. These are all important measurements in glaucome and statisticallay significant (p=0.00, 0.022, 0.012). Althought the differences between the mean values of all quadrants RNFL thickness were similarly lower in OSAS group, this significance was not statistically different. Similarly the average GCC, minimum GCC and subfoveal CCT values between groups were not significant (p=0.79, 0.53, 0.9). Conclusion: In summary we found that peripapillary RNFL, GCC, CCT did not change with OSAS patients or the severity of OSAS. Further more we found that IOP, C/D ratio and vertical C/D ratio of patients were all significantly higher than control group. However multicenter longterm cohort studies are still needed to assess the definite changes of RNFL thickness, GCC and CCT in OSAS patients.