Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Hyperoxia induced by hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may lead to retinal vasoconstriction and the generation of reactive oxygen species. This study aims to investigate the effects of a single session of HBOT on the healthy retina using full-field electroretinography (ffERG) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with either sensorineural hearing loss or avascular necrosis, all of whom had an indication for HBOT, were included in the study. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, along with ffERG and SD-OCT assessments of the retinal layers and choroid, were performed both before and within 24 hours after the first HBOT session. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.2 ± 11.4 years (range, 18-66 years). A statistically significant difference was observed only in the scotopic 0.01 ERG b-wave amplitude before and after HBOT (p = 0.029). The retinal pigment epithelium in the 3-mm nasal subfield of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid demonstrated a statistically significant thickening after the first HBOT session (p = 0.023). Conclusion: A single session of HBOT induced an acute alteration in rod-bipolar cell function, as evidenced by impaired electrophysiological responses. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the duration and potential reversibility of the observed electrophysiological impairment.
Source: Frontiers in Ophthalmology
Authors: Nur Demir, Selin Gamze Sumen, Belma Kayhan
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,353
OpenAlex ID: W4415364050