What Researchers Did
Researchers elevated eye pressure in 32 primate eyes and studied nerve cell transport, comparing animals breathing room air to those breathing 100% oxygen at 3 atmospheres pressure in a hyperbaric chamber.
What They Found
Both groups, including the 32 primate eyes exposed to hyperbaric oxygen, experienced a blockage of nerve cell transport at the optic nerve head. Despite significant increases in arterial oxygen levels in the hyperbarically oxygenated animals, this treatment did not prevent the transport blockade. This suggests that a lack of oxygen is not the primary cause of acute nerve damage from high eye pressure, but rather mechanical compression.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study was conducted on primate eyes in 1980, and its findings may not directly translate to human conditions or current understanding.