What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the effects of a single hyperbaric oxygen therapy session on the healthy retina of 20 patients using electroretinography and optical coherence tomography.
What They Found
A single session of hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly altered the scotopic 0.01 ERG b-wave amplitude (p = 0.029), indicating impaired rod-bipolar cell function. Additionally, the retinal pigment epithelium in the 3-mm nasal subfield showed statistically significant thickening after treatment (p = 0.023).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Patients in Canada receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be informed about the potential for acute, temporary changes in their retinal function. Further research is needed to understand if these changes have long-term visual implications or require specific monitoring.
Canadian Relevance
There is no direct Canadian connection mentioned in this study.
Study Limitations
The study's main limitation is its focus on acute effects, not investigating the duration or potential reversibility of the observed retinal changes.