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[Health] CPAP and eye pressure
#31
RE: CPAP and eye pressure
Paula, and all, regarding computer monitors and eye strain...

(1) I purchased computer reading glasses from one of the suppliers of that big Az company. It's been a real nice addition and now I can't live without them.

(2) On every single device I own, I've downloaded that blue light blocker... (Twilight on Android, f.lux for windows, etc.) It just comes on automatically to get rid of the blue light at night. It's also a nice change.

Lastly, that visual test Paula puts me to sleep almost every time... and no, it's not because of sleep apnea. Wow, I want to have a big cup of coffee before that one.

Just before being diagnosed with sleep apnea, one eye was damaged and needed to be fixed. Shortly after, the other eye went bad for no reason -- perplexing the eye surgeon. I'm certain it was because of the narrowed optic nerves as a result of sleep apnea (an article came out later to show the link). xPAP is far better for the eyes than no xPAP, but even xPAP isn't without it's challenges when it comes to eyes. BTW, my eye pressure is just fine with xPAP. 99/100 eye doctors haven't any idea that sleep apnea negatively impacts eye health. That needs changing.
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#32
RE: CPAP and eye pressure
(06-01-2015, 06:59 PM)WakeUpTime Wrote: Paula, and all, regarding computer monitors and eye strain...

(1) I purchased computer reading glasses from one of the suppliers of that big Az company. It's been a real nice addition and now I can't live without them.

(2) On every single device I own, I've downloaded that blue light blocker... (Twilight on Android, f.lux for windows, etc.) It just comes on automatically to get rid of the blue light at night. It's also a nice change.

Lastly, that visual test Paula puts me to sleep almost every time... and no, it's not because of sleep apnea. Wow, I want to have a big cup of coffee before that one.

Just before being diagnosed with sleep apnea, one eye was damaged and needed to be fixed. Shortly after, the other eye went bad for no reason -- perplexing the eye surgeon. I'm certain it was because of the narrowed optic nerves as a result of sleep apnea (an article came out later to show the link). xPAP is far better for the eyes than no xPAP, but even xPAP isn't without it's challenges when it comes to eyes. BTW, my eye pressure is just fine with xPAP. 99/100 eye doctors haven't any idea that sleep apnea negatively impacts eye health. That needs changing.

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#33
RE: CPAP and eye pressure
when you say 99 out of 100 eye drs haven't any idea sleep apnea and eye health ==========so true. I am having a really hard time right now. I found out I had severe sleep apnea 2 months ago and went on auto cpap by respironics --i love it. I went to my eye dr to give his office a cpy of my sleep study and was told --not interested in what THAT dr had to say [one of the best around] and didn not want a copy of my study. I just found out last week the heart monitor and its readings i had to wear for 48 hrs by my family dr. before I ask for sleep study--my pulse/rate went to lowest at 40 beats pr minute--and my eye dr had me on timolo for moths, no wonder i was dizzy, chest pains, and thought i was going to die--of three drs. and so called specialist -no one talks or contacts each other leaving me to try and figure it out and deal with drs who figure they have all the answers-WITH BIG BIG EGO,S --I get stressed depressed and feel like giving up--last week after my vison field test done by some very young gal, i was told too make an appt for dec -that is over 8 months no drops meds or advice--not even the results of field test, and no pressure readings--i was so upset i went to an aptomitirst and she was so alarmed at my high pressures 26 one eye, 37 the other she called the specialist back i had been to foor field test and sent me right over to his office. He said he got 21 and 26 and gave me a prescription for Atopz and i go back tomorrow. I am a mess, veryy stressed with a so called specialist who doesn't want my sleep study, or even any info from my family dr.-------one doesnt contact the other-just dam crazy and no wonder I get so upset---my sleep specialist was fantastic, very well qualified, and di say he was not familiar with glaucoma and effects of sleep apnea but ask for a report i had brought with me. When i told him my eye dr really didn't seem interested or would talk about effects of apnea and glaucoma, he said he would get another eye dr.----NO KIDDING but easier said than done------the internet is really making drs nervous--they can be called out on there lack of knowlege or bedside manner- I know they are very busy and over worked, but its not really the patients fault--i hope things change soon-- i read a study the auto cpap is the best when you have glaucoma or high pressure in your eyes--that is what i bought..and love it..
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#34
RE: CPAP and eye pressure
Joanster, it is all frustrating, but here's the thing. The sleep study makes no difference in eye treatment. The eye specialist isn't going to change anything based on your sleep study, but should be checking your eye pressure more than once during your first year of doing cpap to see if more or different drops are required. Both my eye doctor and the specialist don't know a lot about cpap and its effect on eye pressure because there is almost nothing out there for them to refer to. I would go in after a couple of months using the cpap to get my eye pressure checked, but I already have an appointment with the specialist who will do all the same tests (and more) in August, so thought I'd just wait on that.

Timolol is a beta blocker which can slow heart rate. So long as your heart rate is above 40, they aren't too worried about it. Whether Timolol is causing my slow heart rate or not, I have to continue to use it. However, I do think most of my dizziness after starting cpap is the lack of solid sleep rather than the slow heart rate. So hang in there! I would make sure, however, that the eye doctor who is dispensing the drops and your family physician is aware of your slow heart rate and chest pains. The chest pains could be a different problem all together.

I would agree with your sleep specialist - if you are that unhappy with your eye doctor, you need to find another one. It's inconvenient, and sometimes really hard, but if you have no confidence in your doctor, it's time to end that relationship. I drove my late Dad 80 miles round trip so that he could continue to see the same eye doctor when that doctor moved to another location. It was worth it because he had every confidence in this eye doctor.

On the other hand, ask yourself if you are making every effort to advocate for yourself. I would never have left the office without addressing why the doctor wasn't giving me eye drops when I still had high eye pressure, for example. Get your questions answered.
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