Snoring that’s linked to sight problems

Some snorers are ten times more likely to develop glaucoma, which can lead to blindness. The condition occurs when fluid does not properly drain from the eye, damaging the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.

obstructive sleep apnoea, where the walls of the throat collapse, causing snoring, triggers a drop in oxygen in the blood, scientists from Hokkaido University in Japan found. This, in turn, may damage the optic nerve.

The discovery, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, could explain the link between obstructive sleep apnoea, heart attacks and strokes (where the heart or brain are deprived of oxygen due to a blockage).

The charity said: ‘In all three cases, there is a prolonged period of oxygen deprivation.’