Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Patient with Bilateral, Sequential Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which affects many organ systems. There are well-known associations between OSA and several ophthalmic disorders. This case reports the association between OSA and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The exact mechanism through which OSA may contribute to NAION is not fully understood. While the association between NAION and OSA is now well established, there is no strong evidence whether positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy can prevent the development of NAION. We report this case to encourage ophthalmologists, pulmonologist and primary care providers to consider screening for OSA in patients who are recently diagnosed with NAION.