RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Nuclear cataract and myopia during hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 113
OP 117
DO 10.1136/bjo.68.2.113
VO 68
IS 2
A1 B. M. Palmquist
A1 B. Philipson
A1 P. O. Barr
YR 1984
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/68/2/113.abstract
AB The effect on the human lens of prolonged hyperbaric oxygen therapy is reported. Eye examinations were given to 25 patients before, during, and after a series of 150 or more exposures to hyperbaric oxygen. All patients changed refraction in the direction of myopia during treatment. Fifteen of the patients had clear lens nuclei before treatment. Seven of these developed a nuclear cataract with reduced visual acuity during treatment. Reversible lens myopia has previously been noticed as a side effect of exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, but the cataractogenic effect in man has not been reported by other workers. This report strongly supports the theory of an oxidative damage to the lens proteins as a cause of nuclear cataract.