In a 59-year-old Han Chinese man with unilateral NAION, OSAHS was identified after other etiologies were excluded, and the authors conclude this highlights the clinical importance of screening for and managing OSAHS in patients with NAION.
A 59-year-old Han Chinese man presented with unilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) associated with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
The patient improved moderately after combined ophthalmic treatment and respiratory management of OSAHS.
An association between OSAHS and NAION was observed in this case after other confounding etiologies were excluded.
NAION is described as arising from hypoperfusion of the short posterior ciliary arteries and is commonly associated with systemic vascular risk factors.
OSAHS is a syndrome of recurrent apnea and hypopnea during sleep that is a recognized risk factor for systemic vascular comorbidities.
The authors conclude that screening for and managing OSAHS in NAION patients is clinically important and may support optimized treatment strategies.
This case report describes a 59-year-old man who developed blurred vision and a missing area of vision in his left eye over about six days. Doctors diagnosed nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition in which reduced blood flow damages the optic nerve at the back of the eye. After other possible causes were ruled out, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) was identified as a likely contributing factor. OSAHS is a condition in which breathing repeatedly pauses during sleep, lowering oxygen levels. He was treated with steroid tablets that were gradually reduced, along with medicines to protect nerves and improve circulation. He also began noninvasive ventilation to correct low oxygen levels and received bronchodilators. His symptoms improved moderately, though the report gives no detailed measurements of how much his vision recovered. This research suggests that sleep apnea may be worth looking for in people who develop NAION, and that treating it may be considered as part of their care. Because this is a single case, it cannot prove that sleep apnea caused the eye problem or that treating it improved his vision. Larger studies would be needed to confirm these ideas.
Zhang C, Lei Q, Song X, Fan Y, Wang X. (2026). Unilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: a case report.. Journal of medical case reports. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-026-06598-4