The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on corneal endothelial structure and anterior segment parameters

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on corneal endothelial structure and anterior segment parameters in healthy eyes.

Methods

17 eyes of 17 patients who were scheduled to receive HBOT for other than ophthalmologic indications were investigated in this prospective study. Central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial properties were evaluated using a specular microscope. Endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell area (AVG), coefficient of variation in cell size (CV), percentage of hexagonal cells (HEX), CCT, intraocular pressure (IOP), spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) values were measured before the HBOT, after the 1st session, and after the 20th session of therapy.

Results

47% of the patients (n = 8) received HBOT because of avascular necrosis, 35% (n = 6) due to sudden hearing loss, 12% (n = 2) for diabetic foot, and 6% (n = 1) for wound infection. The mean IOP was 14,80 mmHg before HBOT, 14,20 mmHg after the 1st session, and 13,73 mmHg after the 20th session. The mean ACD was 3,38 mm before HBOT, 3,34 mm after the 1st session, and 3,16 mm after the 20th session. Although the mean IOP and ACD decreased after HBOT sessions, it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A significant reduction was observed in SE values after 20 sessions of HBOT compared to the values measured before HBOT (p = 0,009). The mean ECD was 2572,53 ± 261,51 cells/mm² before HBOT, 2554,47 ± 236,13 after the 1st session, and 2563,13 ± 226,92 after the 20th session. When the corneal properties measured before and after HBOT sessions were compared, no significant difference was found in terms of CCT, ECD, AVG, CV, and HEX (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

We observed no significant change in CCT, corneal endothelial layer properties, and anterior segment morphology after the 1st session, and after the 20th session of HBOT. Although HBOT reduced IOP and ACD, it was not statistically significant. HBOT may lead to a significant decrease in SE values after the 20th session.

Keywords:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• specular microscope
• corneal endothelial layer
• endothelial cell density
• intraocular pressure

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.