What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the acute effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on macular and choroidal thickness in 49 eyes of 26 patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers.
What They Found
The study found no significant acute changes in central macular thickness (CMT) or choroidal thickness (CT) after hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the overall cohort of 49 eyes (p > 0.05). However, eyes with diabetic retinopathy showed significantly higher pre- and post-HBOT CMT and choroidal thickness values, with nasal choroidal thickness increasing significantly after HBOT in this subgroup. Patients receiving only insulin therapy (28 eyes) also exhibited a greater post-HBOT change in subfoveal CT compared to those on insulin plus oral antidiabetics (21 eyes).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diabetic foot ulcers may not experience immediate significant changes in their macular or choroidal thickness. While some specific changes were noted in patients with diabetic retinopathy or those on insulin only, these findings suggest HBOT does not acutely impact these ocular parameters in a broadly detrimental or beneficial way.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its cross-sectional design, evaluating only the acute effects of a single HBOT session rather than long-term outcomes.