Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for macular edema in retinal vein occlusion: relation to severity of retinal leakage.

Twelve subjects with macular edema in retinal vein occlusion received hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Median visual acuity improved from 20/100 to 20/25 (p = 0.002). Clinically significant improvement (2 lines or more) was achieved in 10 cases (83%). Evaluation of the inward permeability coefficient of the blood-retinal barrier using vitreous fluorophotometry showed no significant alteration in the permeability. Studies of larger groups of vein occlusion patients are required to better understand and characterize the visual changes after the oxygen treatment. Moreover, further follow-up is required before conclusions can be reached about the long-term effect of this treatment.