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Posterior vitreal detachment in decompression illness--case report and discussion
Eric Dan-Goor1, Riaz Asaria, Bill Borthwick
1London Diving Chamber and Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, London NW8 9NH, UK. edg232@aol.com
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|April 29, 2011
Summary
A diver experienced both posterior vitreous detachment and decompression illness simultaneously. Researchers propose nitrogen bubbles from diving may cause retinal separation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diving Medicine
- Barotrauma
Background:
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common condition, often age-related.
- Decompression illness (DCI) results from dissolved gases forming bubbles in tissues during ascent from depth.
Observation:
- A healthy recreational diver presented with acute, unilateral PVD and symptoms of DCI.
- No prior literature links these two conditions occurring simultaneously.
Findings:
- The case suggests a potential etiological role for nitrogen bubble formation in PVD.
- Nitrogen bubbles may contribute to the separation of the vitreous from the retina.
Implications:
- This finding may necessitate a re-evaluation of risk factors for PVD in divers.
- Further research is warranted to explore the link between barotrauma and vitreoretinal interface events.
