Findings from a systemic review study published in Retina indicate that sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are associated with increased odds of developing AMD.¹

The authors systematically reviewed 22 studies from PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science that provided information on AMD and sleep disorders, whether qualitative or quantitative, and found that OSA was associated with a higher risk of AMD (P < 0.001). They also found a statistically significant association between the morning person chronotype and increased odds of developing AMD (P < 0.001). The authors found little to no association between sleep duration and insomnia.¹

The authors acknowledge that further research is needed to understand how sleep disorders affect AMD progression and to determine the potential benefits of treating sleep disorders in patients with AMD.¹

1. Nascimento LM, Louzada R, Amaral DC, et al. Associations between sleep disorders and age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Retina. 2026;46(7):1147-1159.