Further studies in the use of hyperbaric oxygen in retinal detachment with sickle cell anemia

Patients with sickle cell anemia in many cases develop proliferative retinopathy which frequently progresses to retinal hole formation and retinal detachment. These patients do very poorly with scleral buckling procedures. This is probably due to sickling of the red blood cells during surgery, which may interfere with the circulation to the structures of the anterior segment of the eye. We have previously reported avoiding this problem in three cases by performing a modified scleral buckling procedure in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This paper reports additional cases successfully treated with this technique. Blood studies performed during surgery in the hyperbaric chamber are reported and the technique is further described.