What Researchers Did
Researchers reported a case of an elderly woman who developed bilateral vision loss from posterior ischemic optic neuropathy during a blood pressure drop caused by IV hydralazine during an angiographic procedure, and was treated with HBOT plus steroids.
What They Found
The patient showed marked vision improvement immediately after the first HBOT session and continued improving throughout treatment. Follow-up ophthalmology found vision near her baseline. The team used the US Navy Treatment Table 5 protocol.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
PION is extremely rare and has no proven treatment. This case adds to a small body of evidence supporting HBOT for ischemic ophthalmic emergencies. Canadian ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists encountering perioperative vision loss may consider HBOT as an option when standard treatment fails.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
A single case report cannot establish treatment efficacy; the combination of HBOT and steroids makes it impossible to isolate the effect of HBOT alone.