Ocular tear film bubble counts after recreational compressed air diving

Other authors have demonstrated an increase in tear film bubble counts foll owing dry, compressed air dives. We examined the lower tear film meniscus f or the presence of bubbles in 42 divers after compressed air dives on a sin gle day and in 11 divers undergoing repetitive, multi-day diving exposures over 5 days. After diving, bubble counts increased significantly (P<0.01) f rom predive values. From a predive median (inter-quartile range) of 0 (0-0. 33) bubbles/eye, single-day divers reached a maximum bubble count at 48 h a fter diving of 1 (0-2.25) bubbles/eye. Similarly, from a predive count of 0 .33 (0-1) bubbles/eye, multi-day divers had increased bubble counts from 24 h following their first dive until 24 h following their final dive when co unts were 1.67 (0.92-3.08) bubbles/eye. Bubble counts were not significantl y correlated with inert gas load, body mass index, age, or diving experienc e. We confirm that tear film bubble counts are raised after wet compressed air diving as previously described following dry diving.