I sometimes feel like I sound like a broken record when I talk about sleep apnea.
But that’s only because it affected my life completely.
And more importantly, it’s something I see being missed in patients over and over again.
Before I was diagnosed, I already knew that sleep apnea could affect the eyes.
What I didn’t realise was just how deeply it was affecting my entire body — and my ability to function (before I knew it was sleep apnea).
What Is Sleep Apnea (And Why It’s More Serious Than You Think)
Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, often for 10 seconds or longer at a time.
This doesn’t just affect your sleep; it affects your oxygen levels, your brain, and your entire physiology.
Over time, this creates a cascade of problems throughout the body.
The Symptoms the Doctors ignored when I complained about them for years (And So Do a lot of People)
I experienced:
- Constant fatigue and drowsiness
- Brain fog and poor concentration
- Difficulty losing weight despite exercise and a healthy diet
- Snoring (snoring is not normal)
- Waking up with headaches
- Insomnia
- Random daytime sleep episodes
- Waking up multiple times at night
- Waking up to go pee multiple times in the evening
And yet, like many patients, I was told:
“Diet and exercise.”
Despite doing ballet 4 times per week, working out with a Biokineticist 2 times per week, and eating mostly healthy, I was 113 kg.
It didn’t make sense.
And why did the doctors ignore that?
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Two days after my 30th birthday, I started fainting.
At first, it was once a week.
Then it escalated to 6–8 times per day.
I couldn’t function.
I couldn’t drive.
My life completely stopped.
I saw multiple doctors and specialists, and still, no answers.
“It is just your anxiety.”
“You stand up too quickly.”
(Even though it happened while I was already standing.)
I was dismissed.
Misunderstood.
Not taken seriously.
Treated like a hypochondriac or malingerer.
The Turning Point: One Doctor Who Actually Listened
Everything changed when I met a doctor (Dr. Sita Kara from Unitas) who did something simple:
She listened.
The first test she ordered was a sleep study.
That’s when we found it — sleep apnea.
And the moment I started using a CPAP machine…
The fainting stopped completely.
I wanted to thank the doctor for giving me my life back, but in the end, I thanked her for giving me a new life.
I have never had this much energy in my whole life.
What Untreated Sleep Apnea Does to Your Body
Sleep apnea is not just about poor sleep.
It has serious systemic effects, including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart conditions
- Anxiety and depression
- Insulin resistance / Type II Diabetes
- Obesity and metabolic dysfunction
This explains why so many people struggle with:
- Weight loss
- Energy levels
- Mental clarity
It’s not always a discipline problem.
Sometimes, it’s a physiological one.
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Eye Health
This is where most people — and even some healthcare providers — don’t connect the dots.
Sleep apnea affects the eyes due to:
- Intermittent oxygen deprivation
- Oxidative stress
- Vascular damage
Over time, this can lead to serious eye conditions:
Glaucoma
Damage to the optic nerve fibres can lead to permanent vision loss
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION)
Sudden vision loss in one eye due to inflammation and swelling of the optic nerve
Papilledema
Swelling of the optic nerve due to increased intracranial pressure (the pressure of the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal chord)
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSCR)
Endothelial damage can occur (very important cells surrounding organs) due to oxidative stress, which can result in detachment of the neurosensory retina (the central back of your eye).
This could lead to central vision loss.
My Own Eye Health Outcome
In my case, I was fortunate.
There is only minimal thinning of the retina around my optic nerve, with no current visual impact.
But that was only because it was caught early.
If it wasn’t?
It could have progressed into something far more serious, like glaucoma.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the reality most people don’t hear:
You can be doing everything “right” — training, eating well, trying to live healthy…
…and still feel like your body is working against you.
Sleep apnea is one of those hidden conditions that:
- Disrupts metabolism
- Impacts hormones
- Damages blood vessels
- Affects brain function
- And yes — affects your vision
The Bigger Lesson: Advocate for Your Own Health
If there’s one thing my journey taught me, it’s this:
You know your body better than anyone.
If something feels wrong, don’t ignore it.
And don’t accept being dismissed.
Because sometimes the difference between:
- Struggling for years
- And getting your life back
…is one correct diagnosis.
People Also Ask
What are the signs of sleep apnea?
Common signs include snoring, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, difficulty losing weight, and waking up multiple times at night.
Can sleep apnea affect your eyes?
Yes. Sleep apnea can contribute to serious eye conditions such as glaucoma, optic nerve damage, and retinal issues due to reduced oxygen supply.
Why does sleep apnea make weight loss difficult?
Sleep apnea disrupts hormones, increases stress responses, and affects metabolism, making fat loss significantly harder.
Should I get tested for sleep apnea?
If you experience persistent fatigue, snoring, or unexplained health issues, a sleep study is strongly recommended.
If you’re experiencing fatigue, difficulty losing weight, or changes in your vision, don’t ignore it.
