What Researchers Did
Researchers described five patient cases of temporary vision loss and abnormalities, linking them to the consumption of large amounts of licorice.
What They Found
Five patients experienced transient visual symptoms after consuming 1/4 to 2 pounds of licorice. Two of these patients had documented visual loss by visual acuity testing and visual fields. All patients saw their visual symptoms resolve, with one patient requiring hyperbaric oxygen therapy to aid recovery.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing sudden, temporary vision changes, doctors should consider asking about recent licorice intake. This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a potential treatment option for some cases of licorice-induced visual disturbances.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada, nor did it involve Canadian authors. The condition described, transient visual loss due to licorice ingestion, is not a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This study is a case series involving only five patients, which limits the generalizability of its findings.