Association between Sleep Parameters and Glaucoma in the United States Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between glaucoma and sleep in United States adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 6,784 from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey aged ≥40 years who completed the sleep survey. Predictors included sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep disorders, sleep disturbances, sleep medication use, and daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness. Outcomes included disc defined glaucoma (either right or left disc demonstrating glaucomatous features) and visual field defects (VFD) assessed by Frequency Doubling Technology perimetry.

RESULTS: The odds of disc defined glaucoma were 3-times higher among subjects who slept for ≥10 hours per night (OR 3.3, CI 1.3-8.5, P=0.01) compared to 7 hours per night. The odds of disc defined glaucoma were 2-times higher among subjects who fell asleep in ≤9 minutes (OR 2.0, CI 1.2-3.1, P<0.01) and ≥30 minutes (OR 2.3, CI 1.4-3.7, P<0.01) compared to 10-29 minutes. The odds of VFD were 3-times higher among subjects who slept for ≤3 hours per night (OR 3.0, CI 1.1-8.1, P=0.03) and ≥10 hours per night (OR 3.4, CI 1.5 -7.7, P<0.01), compared to 7 hours per night. The odds of VFD were 2-times higher among subjects who had difficulty remembering things (OR 2.0, CI 1.3-2.9, P<0.01) and 3-times higher among subjects who had difficulty working on a hobby (OR 3.0, CI 1.5-6.1, P<0.01) due to daytime sleepiness compared to those without difficulty.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations between glaucoma and abnormal sleep duration, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction; poor sleep parameters may be a risk factor for or a consequence of glaucoma.