What Researchers Did
Researchers reported a case of a middle-aged woman who developed severe visual disturbances after intentionally ingesting quinine as part of a drug overdose, treated with HBOT after a complicated hospital course including shock requiring multiple vasopressors.
What They Found
Visual disturbances appeared to improve after HBOT sessions. Several months after hospitalization, visual defects persisted on examination but with corrective lenses the patient achieved normal visual acuity. No adverse events were attributed to HBOT.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Quinine retinal toxicity is rare but can occur from overdose or antimalarial use. Canadian poison centers and ophthalmologists encountering quinine-induced retinal damage have very limited treatment options; this case supports considering HBOT as a potential rescue therapy when standard treatments are unavailable.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a single case report where the profound shock the patient experienced could independently explain some visual damage and recovery; the specific effect of HBOT cannot be isolated.