Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Glaucoma Among Adults in Abuja, FCT

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with intermittent hypoxia and increased intracranial pressure, both of which may contribute to optic nerve damage and the development or progression of glaucoma. This study investigates the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and glaucomatous optic nerve changes among adults at the National Hospital Abuja, FCT, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional comparative design will be employed, recruiting 150 OSA patients confirmed by polysomnography and 150 age- and sex-matched controls without OSA. Comprehensive glaucoma assessment will include intraocular pressure measurement, central corneal thickness, optic disc evaluation with optical coherence tomography, and automated visual field testing. Logistic regression will be used to assess whether OSA severity, measured by the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), independently predicts glaucomatous findings after controlling for confounders including age, blood pressure, and BMI. The study anticipates a significantly higher prevalence of glaucoma-related changes in the OSA group, particularly in those with severe OSA. Findings will contribute to the interdisciplinary literature linking sleep medicine and optometry and will support advocacy for routine eye examination in OSA patients managed in sleep clinics in the FCT. This research addresses a novel and underexplored area of ocular epidemiology in Nigeria's North Central zone. Keywords: obstructive sleep apnoea, glaucoma, optic nerve, Abuja, intraocular pressure