What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a preliminary study on five patients with cystoid macular edema, treating them with an intensive regimen of intermittent hyperbaric oxygen.
What They Found
All five patients experienced improved visual acuity within 14 days, with improvements ranging from 20/40 to 20/15 and 20/200 to 20/40. For example, one patient improved from 20/200 to 20/40, and another from 20/70 to 20/25. However, vision tended to regress over time.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Currently, hyperbaric oxygen is not a standard treatment for cystoid macular edema, and this preliminary 1987 study does not provide sufficient evidence for its routine use. Patients should discuss established treatment options with their ophthalmologist.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
Key limitations include the very small sample size of five patients, the preliminary nature of the report, and the observed regression of vision over time.