HYPERBARIC CATARACTS

Course overview

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT) IS THE ADMINISTRATION OF 100% OXYGEN AT PRESSURES GREATER THAN ONE-ATMOSPHERE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (1 ATA) FOR A THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE. HBOT THUS INVOLVES A PATIENT BEING CONFINED WITHIN AN AIRTIGHT VESSEL, COMPRESSED TO PRESSURES ABOVE AMBIENT, AND BREATHING 100 PERCENT OXYGEN. HBOT CAN CAUSE VISION CHANGES AND LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CATARACTS. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE POTENTIAL FOR CATARACT DEVELOPMENT AFTER HBOT AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN PREVENTION OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY INDUCED EYE DAMAGE.