Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Case Series

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is an ophthalmic emergency primarily caused by systemic cardiovascular diseases. Central RAO (CRAO) may lead to severe visual loss, whereas branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is associated with more benign symptoms and often resolves with less severe visual dysfunction. The etiopathogenesis of RAO is similar to that of ischemic stroke. It involves sudden occlusion of the retinal artery, leading to ischemia of the inner layers of the retina, retinal infarction, permanent damage to sensory cells, and resultant irreversible loss of vision. Although small-sample studies on the treatment of CRAO are available, only a few case series and reports on the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in BRAO have been published. In this case series, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HBOT in improving visual acuity in patients with BRAO based on an analysis of selected case reports. Patients underwent HBOT at 5, 36, and 48 hours after the onset of ocular symptoms, and visual acuity improved both quantitatively and qualitatively. HBOT has beneficial effects on the final visual acuity of patients following an episode of BRAO and may be a rescue treatment for early-stage BRAO, particularly when reperfusion is still feasible.