Refractive change in response to acute hyperbaric stress in refractive surgery patients.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine whether acute hyperbaric stress affects visual acuity or refractive power after keratorefractive surgery.

SETTING:

Clinical multiplace hyperbaric chamber and ophthalmology clinic, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.

METHODS:

This prospective convenience sample study included 3 groups: 3 patients who had had bilateral myopic radial keratotomy (RK); 2 who had had bilateral myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK); and 4 control subjects who had no previous corneal refractive surgery or ocular pathology but had a myopic refractive error (-1.25 to -8.38 diopters [D]) similar to that in the treated patients before refractive surgery. One additional patient had had unilateral LASIK only and was included in the LASIK and control groups. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest spherocylindrical refractive error, and intraocular pressure were measured at baseline, at 4 atmospheres absolute (atm abs), and on return to ambient pressure. Corneal pachymetry and keratometry were measured at baseline and on return to ambient pressure.

RESULTS:

The mean BSCVA changed from 0.06 logMAR (20/25 Snellen equivalent) at baseline to 0.10 logMAR (20/25) at 4 atm abs in the RK group and from 0.00 logMAR (20/20) to -0.06 logMAR (20/15) in the LASIK group; it did not change in the control group. The mean refractive error changed from 0.25 D at baseline to 0.50 D at 4 atm abs in the RK group, from -0.90 to -1.02 D in the LASIK group, and from -4.58 to -4.53 D in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Acute hyperbaric stress did not appear to alter refractive power after corneal surgery.

• Authors: Enoch T Huang, Michael D Twa, David J Schanzlin, Karen B Van Hoesen, MaryAnn Hill, Mark I Langdorf
• Journal: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery (J Cataract Refract Surg) Vol. 28 Issue 9 Pg. 1575-80 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 0886-3350 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12231314 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Atmospheric Pressure
• Cornea (surgery)
• Diving
• Eyeglasses
• Humans
• Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ
• Keratotomy, Radial
• Laser Therapy
• Middle Aged
• Myopia (physiopathology, surgery)
• Reference Values
• Refraction, Ocular
• Stress, Physiological (physiopathology)
• Visual Acuity