What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a controlled study to see if increased atmospheric pressure, similar to that experienced during scuba diving, affects vision in patients who have had radial keratotomy (RK) eye surgery.
What They Found
The study involved 4 eyes that had undergone RK surgery and 4 control eyes, all exposed to a hyperbaric chamber for 1 hour. After exposure, there were no statistically significant changes in visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure (IOP), keratometry, or corneal pachymetry in either the RK or control groups. This suggests that RK patients can engage in recreational scuba diving without experiencing harmful visual changes.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients who have had radial keratotomy (RK) surgery, these findings offer reassurance that their vision is likely stable under increased atmospheric pressure. This implies that participating in activities like recreational scuba diving may be safe for their eyes. Patients may not need to worry about negative visual effects from pressure changes encountered underwater.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The main limitation of this study is its very small sample size, involving only four eyes that had undergone RK surgery and four control eyes.