The effect of obstructive sleep apnea on retinal arterial and venous oxygen saturations: further evidence from a randomised study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with retinal vascular diseases, but the mechanisms by which OSA might cause retinal vascular disease are unknown.To our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled study to explore the effects of OSA on awake retinal oxygen saturations, as a surrogate of oxygen delivery.Stopping continuous positive airway pressure had no effect on daytime retinal arterial or venous oxygen saturations, despite leading to a marked return of OSA.This suggests that OSA does not alter daytime oxygen delivery and suggests that other mechanisms are responsible for retinal vascular disease in OSA.