What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated how transcorneal and systemic oxygen delivery affects intraocular oxygen levels in rabbits, monkeys, and a small number of human volunteers and patients.
What They Found
Delivering 100% oxygen to the cornea significantly increased aqueous humor pO2 in rabbits and monkeys, and hyperbaric 100% oxygen also raised preretinal vitreous pO2 in monkeys. This increased oxygen prevented sickling of human sickle haemoglobin erythrocytes, though no iris vasculature constriction was observed in two human volunteers or four patients with rubeosis iridis.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada, nor did it involve Canadian researchers or patients.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation is the reliance on animal models and the very small number of human participants, limiting the generalizability of the findings to a broader human population.