What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a single-institution study of 75 patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) to evaluate the systemic and ocular outcomes after hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
What They Found
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy did not significantly improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) or central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Among the 75 subjects, 7 (9.3%) developed a cerebrovascular accident and 5 (6.7%) developed neovascular glaucoma, with no significant difference between HBOT and non-HBOT groups for these secondary outcomes.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing retinal artery occlusion, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not offer a significant benefit in improving vision. Patients should continue to discuss standard treatment options and potential risks of stroke or neovascular glaucoma with their healthcare providers.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted at a single institution outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its single-institution design, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.