Decompression sickness presenting as optic neuropathy

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a systemic disorder caused by an abrupt decrease in the ambient atmospheric pressure to which an individual is exposed. A previously healthy 23-year-old male parachutist developed optic neuropathy after a series of multiple repeated hypobaric exposures; his symptoms improved promptly with recompression and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We believe this to be the first reported case of DCS presenting as optic neuropathy.