Normobaric oxygen therapy for scleral ischemia or melt

• Published in: Journal of ophthalmic & vision research Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 275 - 280
• Main Authors: Sharifipour, Farideh, Panahi-Bazaz, Mahmoodreza, Idani, Esmaeil, Malekahmadi, Mohammad, Feizi, Sepehr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2012; Ophthalmic Research Center; Knowledge E
• Subjects: Original; Oxygen Therapy; Scleral Ischemia or Melt; Scleral Ischemia or Melt; Oxygen Therapy
• ISSN: 2008-2010; 2008-322X; 2008-322X

To investigate the efficacy of normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy for treatment of scleral ischemia or melt. This prospective interventional case series includes 9 eyes of 8 patients with scleral ischemia or melt of diverse etiologies. Following the failure of conventional medical and/or surgical therapy to improve ischemia or upon clinical deterioration, NBO was initiated. All patients received 100% NBO at flow rate of 10 liters/minute by face mask for 1 hour, twice daily until complete vascularization of ischemic areas. Main outcome measures were improvement of scleral ischemia and healing of conjunctival epithelial defects. NBO therapy led to epithelialization and vascularization of the ischemic sclera in all eyes; the repair process began 3-4 days after NBO had been initiated and was completed in 18.1±4.7 (range, 10-25) days. All patients remained stable over a 9-month follow-up period. NBO therapy seems effective for treatment of scleral ischemia or melt, and hence can be considered as a non-invasive alternative to surgical intervention in these conditions.