What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a single case of a young patient with combined retinal vascular occlusion treated with anti-VEGF injections and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
A 28-year-old man experienced sudden vision loss in his left eye, with initial visual acuity (VA) of 20/400, which worsened to counting fingers. After receiving 3 aflibercept injections and 39 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions, his VA improved to 20/20. Microperimetry also showed that a blind spot (scotoma) regressed and remained stable at the one-year follow-up.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing combined retinal vascular occlusion, this case suggests that a personalized treatment combining anti-VEGF therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy could lead to good vision recovery. While promising, this approach would need to be discussed with a specialist, as it is not a standard treatment.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. Retinal vascular occlusion is not a Health Canada-recognized indication for HBOT.
Study Limitations
This study is a single case report, which means its findings may not apply to all patients with similar conditions.