Can COPD Affect the Eyes? | COPD Awareness Month

COPD, also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a long-term lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe. Although the problem is within the lungs, the consequences of COPD reach beyond the pulmonary system. When your lungs do not work efficiently, it can affect other organs and areas of the body, including the eyes.

November is COPD Awareness Month. It is a good time to learn about this common condition and how it can affect your eyes. 
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What is COPD? 

COPD occurs when the small air sacs in the lungs become damaged over time. The damage causes inflammation, increased mucus production, and constriction of the airways. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of COPD in the United States.

Symptoms of COPD include:

• Wheezing
• Breathlessness
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Low oxygen levels
• Frequent lung infections 

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How does COPD affect the eyes? 

When the lungs do not work as well as they should, it can cause systemic problems in the body. Some studies indicate that people with COPD may have an increased risk of eye problems.

Research in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology involved 40 people with COPD and 60 control subjects without COPD. The study revealed that people with COPD had a higher rate of ocular microvascular changes, which may affect the optic nerve and retina, than the control group. The study also found that people with COPD have lower retinal arterial oxygen levels, which means less oxygen is getting to the retina.

Over time, the changes can damage the retina and the optic nerve and cause issues with vision. Another study in the Clinical Respiratory Journal found that people with COPD had thinner retinal nerve fiber layers as compared to people without COPD.

Although studies are limited, it appears the changes in the eyes may be due to chronic inflammation from COPD and a result of hypoxia.

Hypoxia involves decreased levels of oxygen in the tissues of the body. The damage to the air sacs in people with COPD interferes with proper gas exchange. It is difficult to get oxygen in and carbon dioxide out. The result is less oxygen to the tissues in the body. When less oxygen is delivered to the eyes, it can have negative effects on vision. 
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COPD treatment 

Currently, COPD is not curable, but treatments are available that can manage symptoms and may slow the progression of the disease. There is not a one size fits all treatment plan for people with COPD.

The specific treatment plan may depend on the stage of the disease and the severity of symptoms. Usually, COPD treatment includes the following:

• Breathing treatments to open up the airways
• Steroids to decrease inflammation
• Antibiotics to treat frequent infections
• Mucus clearing devices to aid in coughing out secretions
• Pulmonary rehabilitation classes to learn breathing exercises and ways to manage COPD   

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Keeping your eyes healthy 

If you have COPD, one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy is to control symptoms. Follow your doctor’s COPD action plan to prevent a flare-up of symptoms.

People that smoke should consider quitting, which may also slow the progression of the disease.
To prevent problems with the eyes due to hypoxia, monitor your oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter is a small device you place on your finger to determine the oxygen levels in your body.

Although oxygen levels can vary, according to the Mayo Clinic, levels under 90 are considered low. If you consistently have low oxygen levels, talk with your doctor. You may need supplemental oxygen to use at home.

It is also important to go for regular eye exams to check for any eye complications from COPD and other vision problems. Talk with your doctor about the recommended frequency for eye exams.
If you have any questions regarding COPD and your eyes or would like to ask about whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors is appropriate at this time, please phone our office at 508-746-8600.