Ocular refractive changes in patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen administered by oronasal mask or hood

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify ocular refractive changes after a standard hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment protocol and to characterize the time period of recovery. Patients and Methods: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was given for 90 min daily at a pressure of 240 kPa for 21 days. Oxygen was administered to 20 patients using an oronasal mask and to 12 patients using a hood. Follow-up examinations were carried out 2-4 days after treatment, and thereafter regularly for up to 10 weeks in both groups. Refraction was assessed automatically and by the monocular subjective refraction method. A subgroup of nine of the 20 patients to whom oxygen was administered by an oronasal mask underwent a separate eye examination, which included crystalline lens opacity measurements and LOCS III gradings. Results: In the patients given oxygen by mask, there was a significant myopic shift in the mean spherical equivalent, which was largest 2-4 days after treatment. The shift was À 0.55 AE 0.40 D in the right eye and À 0.53 AE 0.42 D in the left eye. In the patients given oxygen by hood, the largest shift was observed after 12-16 days, and was À 1.06 AE 0.52 D in the right eye and À 1.10 AE 0.57 D in the left eye. The refractive changes returned to baseline 6 weeks and 10 weeks after HBO treatment, respectively. No significant changes in crystalline lens transparency were revealed. Conclusions: The myopic shift after HBO therapy recovers within 10 weeks and may be more pronounced when patients are given oxygen using a hood compared with using an oronasal mask.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in chronic pain management

“…The most undesirable side effect of HBO therapy is oxygen toxicity caused by the use of high levels of oxygen. Reversible myopia forms with toxic effects on the lens and resolves within weeks after the completion of treatment [21]. Central nervous system oxygen toxicity and epileptic episodes may be observed, but these do not cause permanent damage.…”

Influence of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Central Corneal Thickness

“…Although extensive clinical studies are still lacking, adjunctive HBO therapy is suggested in the treatment of some ophthalmologic disorders such as central retinal artery occlusion, anterior segment ischemia, corneal edema, and diabetic macular edema [5] . Ophthalmologic complications such as myopic shift and nuclear cataract formation may develop in patients receiving HBO treatment [6][7][8][9] .…”

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of nonhealing wounds in patients with critical limb ischemia

“…The intermittent inhalation of oxygen with air breaks and use of 2.0 ATA reduces the incidence of oxygen toxicity. Reversible myopia arises due to toxic effects on the lens and resolves within weeks after the completion of treatment [67]. The symptoms of CNS oxygen toxicity include twitching, auditory hallucinations, disorientation and seizures.…”