What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed charts of 39 patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) who received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy at a single center.
What They Found
Of 39 patients, 28 (72%) showed some improvement in visual acuity, with a mean improvement of 5.05 lines on a modified Snellen chart after 10 HBO treatments. Patients treated within 12 hours of symptom onset experienced the greatest improvement, averaging 6.11 lines.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing sudden vision loss due to central retinal artery occlusion might benefit from emergent hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment could potentially improve visual acuity, especially if administered quickly after symptom onset.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted at a single hospital center outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
This retrospective, single-center case series has limitations including its observational design and lack of a control group.