Central Retinal Arterial Occlusion
(Acute Ischemic Stroke)
HBOT for Central Retinal Arterial Occlusion
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers a potential treatment approach for central retinal arterial occlusion by addressing the critical issue of reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to the retina. During HBOT, patients breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which significantly increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood plasma.
HBOT helps to:
Extend the window of tissue viability by providing oxygen to ischemic retinal tissue that is not receiving adequate blood flow due to the arterial blockage.
Reduce retinal tissue inflammation and minimize potential secondary damage from oxygen deprivation.
Improve oxygen diffusion to the retinal cells, potentially helping to prevent permanent vision loss by supporting cell survival during the critical period after the occlusion.
The therapy is most effective when administered within the first 24-48 hours after the onset of CRAO. By dramatically increasing oxygen concentration in the blood, HBOT can help compensate for the blocked artery and potentially salvage some retinal tissue that might otherwise be permanently damaged.