1Roessler G., 1Krott R., 2Heller R., 2Krauss D., 1Krieglstein G. K.

1Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Germany, 2Hyperbaric Medical Center Cologne, Germany

Purpose: Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBO) is proposed as an adjunctive therapy for various ischemic diseases. In Europe acute hearing disorders are a frequent indication for short term HBO. Myopic shift as a side effect of HBO has been described previously. Purpose of this study was to assess the relevance of hyperoxic myopia in short term HBO protocols.
Methods: 105 consecutive patients (pts; 58 male, 47 female; average age: 41.6 13.3 yrs, range 18 - 75 yrs) were treated for hearing disorders (96 pts) or other ischemic diseases (9 pts) in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber (HAUX Starmed 2200/5). HBO was carried out once a day (5 times per week) with an average of 12 4.6 (range: 1 -33) chamber treatments. The duration of oxygenation was 60-90 minutes at pressures of 250-240 kPa according to the guidelines of the german society of undersea and hyperbaric medicine (TS 250-60, TS 240-90). All patients were examined with the Canon RK-5 Auto Refractor/Keratometer immediately before and after each HBO session.
Results: 209 eyes were measurable. The median refraction was unchanged pre- and post HBO with a value of -0.125 diopters spherical equivalent (d) and a range of -9 to +4 d. The median corneal astigmatism was pre HBO -1 d and post HBO - 1.1 d (0 - 8 d, p=0.1208, Wilcoxon-test). There was no shift of the axis.
Conclusions: HBO protocols with applicationsonce daily over a limited period do not seem to alter refraction parameters.

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