Many people present that they suffer from sudden interruption of breathing at night when sleeping. Such a condition makes them feel fatigue in daytime. This interruption-of-breathing condition is called Sleep Apnea Disorder, which results from low level of blood oxygen saturation. Patients usually find it hard to breath, thus most of them snore loudly while they are sleeping. It may be a serious problem, if not treated, that would threat health.
The CPAP, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is a therapy that specifically treats Sleep Apnea. This CPAP is a mask-like or nasal pillow-like machine that provides constant flow of air to make the upper airway open, helping the patients to breath well at sleeping time. However, CPAP, although in some degree helps people sleep well, it causes various problems, among which eye conditions are among the most obvious problems. People using CPAP therapy often weak up in the morning to find dry eyes, red eyes, swollen eyes (skin around the eyes becomes swollen) and redness of the eyelids and face around the eyes.
Why should there be so many eye symptoms? Are they out of an allergy to the mask? It seems not so, because most mask today are latex free and made of silicone polymers so possibilities of allergies can almost be negligible. Actually the following factors may explain the why:
The mask you wear when you sleep are too tight, so that eyes are pressed, so you find eyes get red in the next morning; the mask is too loose to keep air from flow across your eyes at night, so you find eyes to get dried the next morning. And if you continue to wear the mask that is too loose without realizing the problem, the dry eye syndrome will be worsen with the advance the of days; the mask is worn or has defect, which will cause dry eyes syndrome as well (if you use nasal pillow instead of mask, a nasal pillow that is worn would also blow air towards the eyes resulting in dry eyes), because the air pressure could induce dry eye by forcing air through the tear puncta openings. Thus, we may see the fitness of a mask is rather important. You should choose the right one for your self. Those who are more sensitive to the pressure of the mask could use different shaped mask on subsequent nights. If it does not work, ask your eye doctor for suggestion. For the last two conditions that cause dry eyes, besides changing the mask, you can go for a doctor to ask for punctal plug occlusion to rule out the possibility of dry eyes.
Another condition needs reminded of is that a person who originally has dry eyes or sleep with partially opened will experience more serious eye condition, especially if they wear defective mask.
There are supplemental treatments to deal with your dry eyes: use artificial tears such as Thera Tears or some other prescription eye drops to help moisten your eyes.
The best supplement treatment, as a matter of fact, is to consult with your eye doctor, who will not only prescribe the most suitable eye treatments for you but also relieve your tight mental condition.
Floppy eyelid syndrome, a lax upper eyelid that will evert easily, is an eye condition that sleep apnea patients often experience, because they often sleep on their side face down on a pillow, which would unconsciously keep their airway open. As the flip inside out, the conjunctival tissue will expose to the air, letting air in, causing dry eyes and meanwhile causing mechanical irritation because conjunctival tissue would constantly rub on the pillow case. If the patients with sleep apnea are not treated properly and timely, there is a risk of chronical inflammation and a red eye upon awakening every morning.
Thus, if you experience hard breath while sleeping, you probably have sleep apnea. Observing any abnormal condition, you should see a doctor and ask for treatment, which will help resolve the all problems, including eye problems.
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