Correlation analysis of the severity of OSAHS with visual field defects and visual evoked potentials in patients with AION

Abstract:

AIM: To investigate the correlation between different severity grades of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)and visual field defects as well asvisual evoked potential(VEP)parameters in patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(AION).

METHODS: A retrospective case-control study. Patients diagnosed with AION complicated by OSAHS at the Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, between June 2022 and October 2025 were selected as the study subjects. According to the AHI and mSaO₂, the patients were divided into three groups: a mild group(AHI 5-15 events/h, mSaO₂ 85%-90%), moderate group(AHI 16-30 events/h, mSaO₂ 80%-85%), and severe group(AHI >30 events/h, mSaO₂ <80%). General demographic data, retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness, visual field defect indicators including mean defect(MD)and pattern standard deviation(PSD), as well as VEP parameters(P100 latency and amplitude)were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS: This study included a total of 110 patients with AION complicated by OSAHS. Based on the severity of OSAHS, the patients were divided into a mild group of 37 patients(21 men and 16 women, mean age 62.15±9.37 y), a moderate group of 35 patients(20 men, 15 women; mean age 61.82±8.94 y), and a severe group of 38 patients(22 men, 16 women; mean age 63.02±9.61 y). There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, sex, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C levels, or AION severity(all P>0.05); however, there were significant differences in history of hypertension, history of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and FPG levels(all P<0.05). The mean RNFL thickness in the severe group(63.27±5.58 μm)was significantly lower than that in the moderate group(74.14±6.28 μm)and the mild group(83.22±7.02 μm), and the moderate group was lower than the mild group(all P<0.05); The MD value(-11.57±1.82 dB)and PSD value(7.35±0.87 dB)in the severe group were both higher than those in the moderate group \〖(-7.62±1.31 dB),(4.89±0.62 dB)\〗 and the mild group \〖(-4.38±1.05 dB),(2.57±0.45 dB)\〗(all P<0.05); the P100 latency in the severe group(132.41±8.57 ms)was longer than that in the moderate group(118.75±7.32 ms)and the mild group(105.62±6.14 ms), and the amplitude(7.65±1.53 μV)was lower than that of the moderate group(11.24±1.89 μV)and the mild group(15.38±2.11 μV)(all P<0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the severity of OSAHS was negatively correlated with the MD value(r_s=-0.901, P<0.05)and positively correlated with the PSD value and P100 latency(r_s=0.947, 0.807, P<0.05), and was negatively correlated with P100 amplitude(r_s=-0.878, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:The severity of OSAHS is closely associated with RNFL thickness, visual field defects, and VEP parameters in patients with AION; the more severe the OSAHS, the more pronounced the structural and functional damage to the optic nerve. Monitoring AHI and mSaO₂ can aid in assessing the condition of patients with AION and developing personalized intervention plans.