Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
07:23
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
8.6K
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Retinal Arterial Occlusion: Epidemiology, Clinical Approach, and Visual Outcomes
Ana Sofia Lopes1, Rita Basto1, Susana Henriques1
1Department of Ophthalmology of Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca E.P.E. Hospital (Amadora-Sintra), Lisbon, Portugal.
Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine
|February 25, 2020
Summary
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows promise for improving vision in acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO) patients when administered early. This safe treatment option offers hope for a condition lacking approved therapies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a critical condition leading to vision loss.
- Current treatment options for RAO are limited and often ineffective.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is being explored as a potential intervention.
Observation:
- A retrospective study analyzed 13 patients with RAO treated with HBOT between 2013 and 2018.
- Key parameters included patient history, treatment timing, HBOT details, and visual acuity outcomes.
- Central RAO (CRAO) affected 69.2% and branch RAO (BRAO) affected 30.8% of patients.
Findings:
- The most common risk factor was arterial hypertension (53.8%).
- Early HBOT (median 9 hours post-symptom onset) resulted in significant visual improvement (best-corrected visual acuity, BCVA) in 55.5% of CRAO cases and 75% of BRAO cases.
- A median of 7 HBOT sessions were administered without reported complications.
Implications:
- HBOT appears to be an effective and safe therapeutic option for RAO.
- Early intervention with HBOT is crucial for achieving optimal visual outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to establish HBOT as a standard treatment for RAO.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
519
Oxygen therapy has emerged as a significant tool in enhancing the quality of life for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While this therapy has principally been studied on patients with significant hypoxemia, this therapeutic approach helps prevent potential organ damage and can be administered in the comfort of one's home.
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
519
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
900
In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
900
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
1.0K
Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
1.0K
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
1.1K
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
1.1K
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
272
Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
272