Abstract
Purpose :
To assess the difference in visual outcome and incidence of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) among patients with CRAO undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy or conservative management.
Methods :
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 48 patients presenting with CRAO at University Health System from 2011 to 2020. 15 underwent HBOT based on US Navy Treatment Table 6; 33 patients did not undergo hyperbaric therapy. HBOT parameters and total treatment time were documented. Student's T-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and incidence of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in the two groups
Results :
In the HBOT group, mean elapsed time between symptom onset and HBOT initiation was 18.27 ± 10.4 hours. In the control group, mean elapsed time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 41.47 ± 55.59 hours. Hyperbaric treatment was stopped for three patients due to anxiety, asymptomatic bradycardia, and one tonic-clonic seizure, respectively. There was no difference in logMAR BCVA improvement among the patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy and those who did not (0.10 ± 0.14, 0.29 ± 0.30, respectively; p=0.22). Incidence of NVG did not differ significantly between the two groups (HBOT: 20.0%; no-HBOT: 15.2%; p=0.676).
Conclusions :
HBOT does not appear to improve final visual outcome or incidence of NVG in cases of CRAO. The efficacy of HBOT in management of CRAO may depend on the implemented treatment algorithm.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.