- When to consider referring for low-vision rehabilitation
- The role of sex hormones and aging in dry eye disease
- 3 reasons to read AOA’s newest clinical practice guideline
- Identifying reading difficulties in children
- Mobilizing against myopia
- New AOA clinical guideline puts focus on elevating care of glaucoma patients
- Tips for reinforcing optometry’s role in the broader health care system
- Vision loss makes list of 14 risk factors for dementia
- The ‘gatekeepers of primary eye care’
- Myopia report calls for disease classification, new federal policies
- High-tech solutions for low vision
- Optometrists play an integral role in assessing and treating patients with traumatic brain injuries.
- Primary care of the stroke patient
- Research on eye aberrations not abstract to award-winning scientists
- AOA, CooperVision mobilize to ‘disrupt the status quo,’ advance new standard of care for children with myopia
- What do the experts say on genetic testing for IRDs?
- Pediatric keratoconus prevalence higher than believed, may change care approach
- Making blurry vision clear
- Unblurring the lines
- Appreciating optometry’s value to patients with diabetes and their primary care physicians
- 9 benefits of introducing laser procedures into your practice
- 5 considerations if you’re thinking about adding laser procedures to your practice
- Optometrist-performed YAG capsulotomies shown effective, safe and beneficial for patients
- Proof not positive yet on low-dose atropine for myopia in children
- For 128 million U.S. presbyopes, doctors of optometry can provide treatment options
- What’s up, doc? Can a dietary supplement reverse patient cataracts?
- Legal blindness in America
- AOA webinar addresses concerns about myopia management
- AOA serving patients through research in optometry
- Marijuana sensibilities changing fast: Are you ready for patients’ questions?
- Buzz builds for AOA virtual ePosters event
- New AOA adult eye guideline
- New technology for the advanced AMD patient
- Interprofessional communication for diabetic eye care
- Contact lens experts weigh in on gaps in consumer knowledge
- Align your team on binocular vision disorders
- How to better manage dry eye disease
- eyes the brain and learning
- Can vision intervention slow onset of dementia
- New independent task force recommendation on glaucoma screening underwhelms
- Gene therapy vision rehabilitation for IRDs
- 2022 contact lens controversies
- The latest research from AOA members
- Caring for patients with special needs
- New discoveries aid understanding of the visual system
- Don’t let the pressure get to you or your patients
- How technology has changed recommendations for visually impaired children
- 12 ways to provide better care for patients with prediabetes and diabetes
- Alzheimers and eyes
- Level up your diabetes care with specialists, services collaboration
- Behind the lens
- Contact lens developments regarding keratoconus
- Managing the care of patients with contact lens-related dry eye
- Lens-based strategies to address reading issues due to mild, disease-related vision loss
- Study shines light on optogenetics in retinitis pigmentosa
- surgical procedures courses
- Genetic Testing and Gene Therapy
- low vision in your practice
- Low percentage of patients with diabetes adhere to key self-care practices
- EBO to produce new glaucoma clinical practice guideline
- details of visual functions immediately following marijuana use
- Understanding Photophobia in mTBI
- New myopia management guidance released
- The challenges of maintaining a healthy tear film
- Integrating models of diabetic eye care
- Dry Eye and Productivity
- Contact lens innovation delivers opportunity
- How face masks affect the eyes
- Marijuana dispensaries still blow smoke over glaucoma effects
- Conjunctival Lymphangiectasia and Fabry
- Techniques to enhance contrast
- Americans remain at high risk for vision loss
- Stimulating eye and vision research
- Allergic conjunctivitis in a COVID-19 world
- Atropine in myopia control
- CDC US coronavirus spread expected
- Demystifying dizziness
- Optometry and Glaucoma patients
- 5 reasons why doctors should use AOA diabetes guideline
- Growing epidemic of adolescents and young adults with prediabetes
- Improving scanning efficiency of individuals with homonymous hemianopia
- second edition of diabetes clinical practice guideline
- Pupil patterns in youth a phenomenon
- Study high school sports concussions underscores optometry role in care
- Prototype imager of tear film sublayers opens eyes on dry eye
- Retinal measurements hold clues to Alzheimers disease
- reversing prediabetes to normoglycemia can lessen microvascular complication risk
- Detecting the signs of autism at earlier age using visual cues
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- Addressing elderly vision impairment
- The AMD aspirin balancing act
- Study looks at what patients understand about their glaucoma diagnoses
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- New mild TBI guideline for children provides opportunity for doctors of optometry
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- Myopia incidence piques control efforts initiatives
- Study links visual impairment to physical and cognitive function declines
- Benefits unfamiliarity proves barrier to diabetes care
- Eyes on Alzheimers
- Association found between TBI and neurodegenerative conditions
- Spotting the link between vision problems and ADHD
- Treating the digital eye
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- Researchers zero in on potential dry AMD treatment
- Ranibizumab proves effective to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Study shows some drivers with glaucoma naturally adapt
- Doctors of optometry a crucial component in cataract care
- Be part of the national dialogue about diabetes
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- New study calls attention to importance of carotenoids
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- Novel glaucoma therapy One ring to help them all
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- Gene mutation uncovers potential treatment for rare form of pediatric glaucoma
- How astigmatism affects reading fluency
- FDA approves first corneal cross linking system for treatment
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- Virtual model aids diabetic retinopathy progression understanding
- doctors of optometry AMD assessments comparable to ophthalmologistsoutcomes
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- Not a dry eye
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- Risk for macular degeneration linked to low levels of vitamin D
- Tears now fears Zika persists in eyes
- Myopia Controlling the heretofore uncontrollable
- advancing keratoconus care
- visual dysfunction after brain injury
- Study detects early biomarkers for risk of developing diabetic retinopathy
- Prevalence of Undiagnosed AMD
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- Zikababy
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- Encyclopedia of dry eye disease released
- Clinical Pearls for Seasonal Allergies
- Doctors of optometry less likely to prescribe seldom needed antibiotics for conjunctivitis
- T cells hold promise of treatment for preemies born with eye condition
- Youth Concussions
- New imaging techniques detect earlystage Alzheimer’s disease
Don’t sleep on it when it comes to patients’ ocular health
March 10, 2020
Linking sleep disorders to systemic and ocular diagnoses.
When it comes to sleep, Americans aren't just complaining about quantity. Quality matters most to them.
"When they feel sleepy, more Americans say it's generally because they're not sleeping well enough (55%) as opposed to not having enough time to sleep (44%)," The National Sleep Foundation reported in its 2020 Sleep in America® Poll. The foundation released its poll this week to coincide with Sleep Awareness Week (March 8-14). Friday, March 13, also marks World Sleep Day.
For doctors of optometry, that poor-quality sleep can have systemic and ocular implications for their patients' health.
"Sleep apnea affect our entire body, including the eyes," says Kellen Robertson, O.D., who authored a 2018 online article on "7 Ways Sleep Apnea Affects Ocular Health" and practices at Eyes for Life in Spokane, Washington.
How doctors of optometry play a role
In his article, Dr. Robertson noted several systemic and ocular conditions associated with apnea.
"The strongest correlation is between Floppy Eyelid Syndrome (FES) and sleep apnea—sleep apnea is reported in 96% of patients with FES," he says. "Sleep apnea can also make glaucoma (especially normotensive) more difficult to control. We know that a big component in glaucoma control is nerve perfusion, which can be reduced with too low of blood pressure or with obstructive sleep apnea.
"Apnea has also been linked to an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes," he says.
For instance, in a study published online in March 2020 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers reported that adults between the ages of 45-84 with the "most irregular sleep duration or timing had more than double the risk of developing a cardiovascular event over the follow-up period compared to those with the most regular sleep patterns.
Doctors of optometry should be aware of the linkage and be prepared to respond, Dr. Robertson says.
"Optometrists are physicians and need to consider the patient's entire health during comprehensive exams," he says. "Checking for FES literally only takes touching the lower eyelid to determine, a simple manipulation that all optometrists should do anyway to view the lower palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva as well as meibomian glands.
"FES is easy to diagnose and has a very high correlation to sleep apnea," he adds. "If optometrists notice this, they should discuss sleep habits (i.e., snoring, waking tired, constant fatigue, tossing and turning) and observe for other physical characteristics correlated to sleep apnea. Optometrists should introduce themselves to local sleep apnea treatment centers and have a brochure and pamphlet they can give to patients to refer them for proper testing and treatment as needed. It's a great way to build a relationship with other medical professionals in your area and boost referrals from outside sources. I gave my local sleep apnea testing centers a copy of the article I wrote, so they understood the need for regular eye exams for their sleep apnea patients."
Bedtime tips
The national sleep poll noted that 44% of Americans feel sleepy 2-4 days a week. The impact of the sleepiness is that it affects their mood, productivity and health. Among suggestions for bleary-eyed patients suffering from a lack of sleep, the National Sleep Foundation offers several tips:
- Stick to a sleep schedule.
- Adopt a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Avoid naps.
- Exercise daily.