The application of optical coherence tomography in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) is a syndrome which is characterized by recurrent partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, however, its mechanism is not so well defined at present. Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is a noninvasive technique which have high-resolution and can get the cross-sectional images of biological tissue by using light interferometry. The imaging of anatomic structure of upper airway by OCT is clear, which can get the obstructive site and severity. OCT can also observe the change of airway during sleep in real time. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreases in patients with OSAHS because of intermittent hypoxia, which lead to glaucoma. OCT is a noninvasive technique that allows direct visualization and measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Therefore, OCT is expected to become a new technology for studying OSAHS. Key words: Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness