Effect of Sleeping Position on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Individuals with Glaucoma.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effect of sleeping in the lateral decubitus position on the average thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the peripapillary region of the optic nerve since the effect of posture on intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma progression is not yet sufficiently understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with 40 volunteers who preferably slept in a right lateral decubitus (RLD) (RLD group = 20) and left lateral decubitus (LLD) (LLD group = 20) position. IOP was measured in both eyes, first in the sitting position and again after 10 minutes in a supine position, right lateral, and LLD, respectively. The mean thickness of the RNFL and the vertical papillary cup were measured by optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS

The average age of the volunteers was 60.53 ± 7.26 years. There were 32 female and eight male. There was an increase in IOP with the change from the sitting position to the lateral decubitus of 2.7 and 3.6 mm Hg in the RLD group ( < 0.001) and an increase of 3.0 and 3.15 mm Hg in the LLD group ( < 0.001), right eye (RE) vs left eye (LE), respectively. However, there was no difference in IOP values between the groups. The average thickness of the RNFL was in the RLD group-75.10 vs 78.05 μm ( = 0.325) and in the LLD group-81.55 vs 79.95 μm ( = 0.580). Vertical papillary excavation was in the RLD group-0.70 vs 0.65 ( = 0.175) and in the LLD group-0.65 vs 0.65 ( = 1.000), RE vs LE, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We found no relationship between the lateral decubitus position when adopted preferentially for sleeping and the reduction of the RNFL.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Search for risk factors for the asymmetrical development of glaucoma, especially in well-controlled IOP in daytime measurements.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Vaz RT, Montenegro AAL, Quintas Segundo ADS, Effect of Sleeping Position on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Individuals with Glaucoma. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2024;18(2):57-62.