Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion is a rare cause of sudden loss of vision. The degree of visual loss is dependent on the exact location and degree of occlusion (blockage of blood supply to the eye).

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) can help restore blood supply to the eye however studies have shown that it is only effective if treatment is started within 24 hours of symptom onset.

In practical terms this means that very few patients meet the criteria for HBO and therefore it is a condition that we very rarely treat in the UK.

Further information regarding the Referral and Funding process can be found here.

 

References

Beiran I, Goldenberg I, Adir Y, Tamir A, Shupak A, Miller B. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy for retinal artery occlusion. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct-Dec;11(4):345-50. doi: 10.1177/112067210101100405. PMID: 11820305.

Mathieu D, Marroni A, Kot J. Tenth European Consensus Conference on Hyperbaric Medicine: recommendations for accepted and non-accepted clinical indications and practice of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Diving Hyperb Med. 2017 Mar;47(1):24-32. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.1.24-32. Erratum in: Diving Hyperb Med. 2017 Jun;47(2):131-132. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.2.131-132. PMID: 28357821; PMCID: PMC6147240.

Emergency
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