The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on retina, choroidal thickness, and choroidal vascularity index

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy 2022-06, Vol.38, p.102854-102854, Article 102854
• Main Authors: Tukenmez Dikmen, Nejla, Akyol, Ugur Can, Comerter, Dogukan, Sadik, Muhammed Talha, Demir, Nur, Sumen, Selin Gamze, Sonmez, Murat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Central macular thickness; Choroidal thickness; Choroidal vascularity index; Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Retinal nerve fiber layer
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.102854

•Knowing the effects of HBOT on the eye is important to identify possible indications and contraindications.•It is the first study to examine the effect of HBOT on the vascular and stromal components of the choroid and macula together in healthy eyes.•We did not observe any critical changes in both thickness and structural components of the choroid after single and 20 sessions of HBOT administration in healthy individuals.•HBOT causes a statistically significant reduction in central macular thickness. To determine the acute and cumulative effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on retina and choroid tissue in healthy eyes. Thirty-five subjects who were planned to undergo HBOT for non-ophthalmologic indications comprised the population of this prospective study. Central macular thickness (CMT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and choroidal thickness (CT) (3 points: subfoveal area, 500 µm nasal and fovea temporal) were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) before HBOT and half an hour after the 1st and 20th sessions of HBOT. The subfoveal choroidal area was segmented using ImageJ software with the binarization technique on enhanced depth imaging (EDI) OCT images. Choroidal area (CA), luminal area (LA), and stromal area (SA) were calculated. Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was determined as the ratio between LA and CA. The right eyes of 35 patients aged between 22 and 59 years were enrolled in the study. The mean CMT values of the patients were 259.36 ± 22.31 µm, 256.94 ± 22.72 µm, and 254.58 ± 23.02 µm before HBOT, after the 1st session, and after the 20th session, respectively. The change in CMT values before and after HBOT was statistically significant (p=0.001). When the patients' RNFL, CT, CA, SA, LA, and CVI changes before and after the HBOT were examined, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). Our study jointly evaluates the effect of HBOT on the vascular and stromal components of the choroid and macula in healthy eyes. Due to its thinning effect on the macula, it can be preferred as an adjunctive and facilitating treatment option in addition to current treatments in patients with macular edema due to retinal vascular disorders.