We just had to amplify this wonderful experience a user shared with us after using Owl Eye. He discovered an escalating sleep issue after starting his journey to better sleep health.
At Optalert, we built Owl Eye to help users detect signs of sleep issues within 10 minutes via a simple, straightforward test. The ideal outcome was if the user is at risk of having a sleep issue, they would book a consultation with their general practitioner (GP) or sleep specialist to get further support for their sleep health.
This was the case for Tim*, who emailed us about his experience using Owl Eye. The app triggered a deeper understanding of his sleep health, leading to a diagnosis of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and treatment with the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Discovering a hidden sleep issue
After taking the 10-minute test on Owl Eye, Tim’s results indicated that he showed some signs of sleep issues. His blink patterns revealed the impairment that results from not getting enough oxygen during sleep.
“Intrigued by these results, I decided to undergo 21 days of CPAP treatment. The difference was remarkable — I felt much sharper during the day, and my Apple Watch data confirmed that I was getting better sleep. On average, I got 27% more rapid eye movement (REM) and deep sleep.” - Tim*
Tim’s apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores measured by the CPAP machine were consistently below 5, which indicated he did not have even mild OSA – let alone moderate or severe.
After beginning CPAP treatment, his Owl Eye test results showed he had no signs of sleep issues.
This made him wonder: Had the Owl Eye app made a mistake?
A surprising twist: rethinking ‘false positives’
Things then took an interesting turn for Tim, who had been dealing with ongoing issues related to a root canal and crown dental operation in 2024.
“During a visit to a new prosthodontist, he reviewed my CBCT scans and immediately remarked, ‘You have a sleep issue.’” - Tim*
Tim was diagnosed with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) due to the shape of his palate. One of the treatment options for UARS is indeed CPAP, which explains why he benefited from the treatment despite having low AHI scores. It also explains why his blink patterns revealed impairment.
Understanding upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS)
UARS is a resistance in the upper airway, usually the nose or throat, that disrupts airflow. People with UARS might not experience the same levels of apnoea or hypopnea events as those with OSA, making it harder to diagnose based on AHI alone.
Despite this, sleep disturbances can be just as impactful, leading to daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and an overall diminished quality of life.
In Tim’s case, the shape of his palate contributed to his UARS diagnosis, and CPAP therapy remained an effective treatment option. This revelation explained why the CPAP intervention had helped him, despite the low AHI readings.
Yet, none of this would have occurred had the Owl Eye test not alerted him to having signs of sleep issues in the first place. It was a validating experience for our R&D team.
Validating the Owl Eye test
“The Owl Eye test successfully identified a sleep disorder that I had unknowingly lived with for many years – possibly decades.” - Tim*
Tim’s experience is a testament to the breadth of sleep issues our non-invasive health technology can identify. The Owl Eye test goes beyond the conventional measures of OSA to help detect subtle sleep disruptions via blink patterns (i.e., eyelid movements or blepharometry).
His story also highlights the importance of doing a comprehensive sleep analysis. While metrics like AHI are vital, they are not the full picture, particularly when other disorders such as UARS can fly under the radar.
Tim’s subsequent actions and diagnosis shows how Owl Eye can prompt individuals to dig deeper, ultimately uncovering the root cause of their sleep problems.
While other traditional sleep tests can take weeks to show a result, Owl Eye provides a definitive result in 10 minutes. The person can then begin their journey to better sleep health by booking a consultation with a medical professional.
Looking ahead: better sleep health for everyone
Tim’s story reaffirms our mission and what drives us at Optalert: using innovative technology to help as many people as possible to achieve longer and healthier lives.
Interested in trying Owl Eye for yourself? Download it for free on the Apple App Store, or learn more about how it works here.
*Name changed for privacy.
