What Researchers Did
Researchers assessed refractive changes, including subjective refraction, refractometry, keratometry, and axial ultrasound, in 17 patients undergoing 30 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The study found myopic refractive changes ranging from 0 to 1.5 D in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The average myopic shift was 0.58 D by refractometry and 0.49 D subjectively, with these small changes being statistically highly significant. No significant changes were observed in axial eye length, and keratometry readings showed only minimal, though statistically significant, alterations.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be aware that they might experience small, temporary myopic changes in their vision. These changes could affect daily activities requiring clear vision, such as driving, and may necessitate temporary adjustments to corrective lenses.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A key limitation was the small sample size of 17 patients who completed the full ophthalmic assessment, leading to common drop-outs for eye examinations.