What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on 14 eyes with cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion.
What They Found
Visual acuity improved by 2-6 lines, averaging 3.6 lines, in the 14 HBO-treated eyes, while 12 control cases showed little improvement. Although the therapeutic effect was stable and visual function enhanced, fluorescein angiography did not show reduced leakage from perifoveal capillaries.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be an effective treatment modality for Canadian patients experiencing cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion. It may offer a new option to improve visual acuity for those affected by this condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its small sample size of 14 treated eyes and 12 control cases.