{"id":363,"date":"2025-08-14T20:05:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T20:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcknightdental.com\/blog\/?p=363"},"modified":"2025-09-15T20:08:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:08:25","slug":"sleep-apnea-blindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcknightdental.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/sleep-apnea-blindness\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleep Apnea Result in Blindness?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that effects approximately 30 million Americans. This can result in various negative consequences, like loud snoring, fatigue, and difficulty focusing on tasks during the day. Sleep apnea can also increase your risk of other health conditions throughout the body, including those that lead to vision loss. Continue reading to learn more about this connection and what you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Link Between Sleep Apnea and Vision Problems?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep and your vision may not seem like they have a lot in common. However, there is a connection between sleep apnea and a condition known as \u201cdiabetic retinopathy.\u201d Someone with this condition experiences damage to their blood vessels in their eyes. When left untreated, this can result in a condition called macular edema, which consists of fluid buildup in the retina. This can cause serious damage to your eyes and result in vision loss over time! This condition can affect anyone, but it is much more common in those who have diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over half of people who have type two diabetes experience obstructive sleep apnea. Ultimately, sleep apnea could trigger a chair of events that can lead to diabetic retinopathy in diabetic people. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely that you can keep your body, including your eyes, healthy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Is Sleep Apnea Addressed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting quality sleep every night is necessary for your body to thrive. If you aren\u2019t getting the rest that you need, the different systems throughout your body suffer. Here are some of the steps you should take if you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n