Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygenation in macular edema of vascular origin

Macular edema (ME) is a primary reason for permanent decreases of visual ac uity (VA) in diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusions. The standard treatment (photocoagulation, rheological treatment) provide only a limited success. We have therefore studied the additional use of hyperbaric oxygen ation (HBO2) in patients with persistent ME. Five patients (1 female, 4 mal e; 7 eyes) were treated by adjunctive HBO2. The average age of the patients was 60.6 (38.9-76.8) yr. The VA was measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts before and after HBO2 with a monthly follow up. F luorescein angiography was performed before and after HBO2 with a follow up every 3 mo. Each patient received 10-30 HBO2 treatments (median 15). The f ollow-up period was 15 mo. for every patient. The mean increase in VA was 3 .5 (2-4) lines after HBO2. Retinal photocoagulation was performed in six ey es. Diabetic macular edemas showed no morphologic change, while ME originat ing from retinal vein occlusions (CME) regressed. The VA in our patients wi th ME of vascular origin seemed to improve with HBO2. Photocoagulation was necessary in most cases. Visual function correlated with the angiographic p resentation only for CME.