Hyperbaric Oxygen Treats Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has shown promise in the treatment of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), a condition that leads to sudden, painless vision loss due to obstruction of the central retinal artery. HBOT involves administering 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, significantly increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma. This enhanced oxygen delivery can bypass the occluded artery, providing essential oxygen to the ischemic retinal tissue and potentially preserving retinal function. Early intervention with HBOT can help reduce retinal edema, decrease the extent of retinal damage, and improve visual outcomes. While clinical studies continue to evaluate its efficacy, HBOT remains a viable adjunctive therapy for CRAO.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treats Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treats Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has shown promise in the treatment of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), a condition that leads to sudden, painless vision loss due to obstruction of the central retinal artery. HBOT involves administering 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, significantly increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma. This enhanced oxygen delivery can bypass the occluded artery, providing essential oxygen to the ischemic retinal tissue and potentially preserving retinal function. Early intervention with HBOT can help reduce retinal edema, decrease the extent of retinal damage, and improve visual outcomes. While clinical studies continue to evaluate its efficacy, HBOT remains a viable adjunctive therapy for CRAO.

How Hyperbarics Helps

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Delivers oxygen directly to the retina and retinal artery, helping to heal the occlusion

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Improves blood flow

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Reduces inflammation that can cause restriction around your retinal arteries

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Promotes the growth of new blood vessels

What the Research Says

Central retinal artery occlusion, (CRAO) occurs when the central retinal artery, which supplies blood to the retina, becomes blocked. This causes a sudden loss of vision in one eye that is painless, but unfortunately usually permanent. A patient with CRAO should go to a hospital emergency room immediately, and should be considered for hyperbaric oxygen treatment within 24 hours of the injury. When the retina does not receive adequate oxygen and nutrients, it can lead to irreversible damage and loss of vision. Even though hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides the best chance of recovery from CRAO, recovery from CRAO is never assured. The treatment protocol for hyperbaric therapy is complex with CRAO, depending on the patient's response.
If you or a loved-one has experienced vision loss in one eye, go to the emergency room immediately and require them to approve hyperbaric oxygen therapy as your best chance for recovery!
By providing oxygen at high concentrations under pressure, HBOT can increase the oxygen supply to the retina, bypassing the blocked artery and promoting tissue survival. The increased oxygen levels also stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, which can help restore blood flow to the affected area and prevent further damage. In addition to improving oxygen delivery, HBOT also reduces inflammation in the retina. Inflammation is a normal physiological response to tissue injury, but when it becomes excessive, it can lead to tissue damage and impaired healing. In CRAO, the blockage of the central retinal artery triggers an inflammatory response that can exacerbate the damage to the retina. HBOT has been shown to reduce inflammation by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines and promoting the release of anti-inflammatory mediators. This anti-inflammatory effect can help reduce tissue damage and enhance healing in CRAO.
HBOT can also promote the growth of new blood vessels in the retina, a process known as neovascularization. Neovascularization is a critical component of tissue repair as it supplies oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissue. Studies have shown that HBOT can promote the growth of new blood vessels by activating a group of proteins called hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). HIFs are involved in the regulation of blood vessel formation and can promote the growth of new vessels in response to low oxygen levels. By promoting neovascularization, HBOT can help restore blood flow to the affected area and enhance tissue repair in CRAO.
HBOT is a safe and well-tolerated therapy, and its use in treating CRAO is supported by several clinical studies. A recent meta-analysis of 17 studies on the use of HBOT in CRAO found that HBOT significantly improved visual acuity and reduced the risk of developing neovascular glaucoma, a severe complication of CRAO. Another study showed that HBOT improved visual acuity and reduced the size of the ischemic area in the retina in patients with CRAO.
The key point here is that if you or a loved one have experienced CRAO, get into the emergency room now, request a prescription for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and call us. In most cases, we can get you in the same day. Speed to first treatment is critical in helping overcome CRAO.

Research Studies

Oxford Academic

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for combined branch retinal artery and branch retinal vein occlusion

The nature of delayed radiation injury, the mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen is effective, clinical results, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on cancer growth and future areas for research will be discussed.
Oxford Academic

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for combined branch retinal artery and branch retinal vein occlusion

Combined branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is very rare and leads to sudden vision loss.
Eye

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for non-arteritic central retinal artery occlusion retrospective comparative analysis from two tertiary medical centres

Utilizing HBOT as part of the SOC for CRAO improves the final visual outcome. HBOT is safe and can be implemented, if available, as part of SOC in all tertiary medical centres.
Eye

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for non-arteritic central retinal artery occlusion retrospective comparative analysis from two tertiary medical centres

To compare the visual outcome of patients treated for non-arthritic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a medical centre that uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as part of the standard of care (SOC) to medical centres that does not.
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports

CASE SERIES OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY FOR CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION.

This retrospective case series supports the use of emergent HBO therapy as a viable treatment option for patients with central retinal artery occlusion. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was safely administered and well tolerated.
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports

CASE SERIES OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY FOR CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION.

To retrospectively report the outcomes of patients presenting to our facility with central retinal artery occlusion and receiving therapy with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).

Patient Experiences

Listen to what real patients have to say about their experiences.
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  • Lisa St John, the clinic director for Bay Area Hyperbarics, had chronic refractory osteomyelitis that lasted seven years with no relief. The infection induced severe fatigue and cognitive impairment that prevented her from working, and required her to sleep up to 18 hours per day. Finally, a physician recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy with antibiotics, which after 60 treatments, healed her. Shortly after being healed, she sold her home to begin her first hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic, which she has owned for almost 25 years!

    Lisa, 44

    After seven years of suffering, hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her osteomyelitis.
  • Jennifer had osteomyelitis of the lower jaw (mandible), which proved difficult to heal. Her teeth were becoming loose, and her doctor thought she would need surgery. However, he prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy before the surgery, and after 60 treatments, her chronic refractory osteomyelitis healed completely, regrowing bone in her mandible. Jennifer was able to keep her teeth, and was able to return to her active lifestyle, hiking regularly with her husband.

    Jennifer, 68

    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy eliminated the need for surgery to heal her bone infection.
  • Unbranded
    Lisa, 44
    After seven years of suffering, hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her osteomyelitis.
    Lisa St John, the clinic director for Bay Area Hyperbarics, had chronic refractory osteomyelitis that lasted seven years with no relief. The infection induced severe fatigue and cognitive impairment that prevented her from working, and required her to sleep up to 18 hours per day. Finally, a physician recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy with antibiotics, which after 60 treatments, healed her. Shortly after being healed, she sold her home to begin her first hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic, which she has owned for almost 25 years!
  • Unbranded
    Jennifer, 68
    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy eliminated the need for surgery to heal her bone infection.
    Jennifer had osteomyelitis of the lower jaw (mandible), which proved difficult to heal. Her teeth were becoming loose, and her doctor thought she would need surgery. However, he prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy before the surgery, and after 60 treatments, her chronic refractory osteomyelitis healed completely, regrowing bone in her mandible. Jennifer was able to keep her teeth, and was able to return to her active lifestyle, hiking regularly with her husband.

Physicians: Refer a Patient

Refer a patient in three easy steps.
1

You Submit Your Patient’s Information

As a provider, your office fills out and faxes back the Patient Referral Form. Have questions? Call us!
2

We Get Authorizations

We ensure the patient understands the treatment and follows the prescribed protocol to get the patient on the road to recovery!
3

Patient Starts HBOT

Our medical staff meets with the patient to ensure that HBOT treatment is appropriate and contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization.

Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.
  • What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats medical conditions with 100% oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The patient lies or sits in the chamber. The oxygen then saturates the plasma in the blood, allowing oxygen to easily flow throughout the body and reach even areas that are injured or diseased, which typically receive less oxygen. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include stimulating and mobilizing stem cells, down-regulating inflammatory genes, up-regulating reproductive cells and stimulating DNA. HBOT also regrows tiny blood vessels, and stimulates the growth of new healthy cells in the brain, bones, skin, organs, and tissues. People seek hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal physical damage in their bodies and to promoting health and anti-aging.
  • Does HBOT kill cancer cells?
    Current research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen does not kill cancer cells. However, there has been a small amount of research indicating that hyperbaric oxygen might reduce the size of certain tumors. Also, there has been a study on mice using hyperbaric oxygen, along with a ketogenic diet, to reduce tumors. Hyperbaric oxygen causes many different healing modalities to kick into gear. Could its effect on strengthening the immune system inhibit the growth of cancer cells? Nobody knows. There are numerous studies conclusively showing that hyperbaric oxygen does not encourage cancer cells or tumors to grow. Some patients claim the hyperbaric oxygen makes them feel a lot more comfortable and functional after chemotherapy and also during healing. Note that some chemotherapy drugs are not to be used with hyperbaric oxygen, as the chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced and thus become toxic. A good hyperbaric oxygen facility (such as Bay Area Hyperbarics) will always call the chemotherapy manufacturer to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be helpful and not damaging to the patient.
  • IWhat is the CPT code for HBOT?
    The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
  • Does Medicare cover HBOT?
    Medicare covers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for approved conditions, and many insurance companies also cover approved conditions. If your condition is not approved by your insurance, we can discuss our special rates. Give us a call at (408) 356–7438. We are happy to discuss your options with you.
  • Can HBOT help Neuropathy?
    Hyperbaric treatments help heal neuropathy by regrowing small blood vessels and nerves that have died from disease, injuries from radiation and aging. Patients often experience numbness and or pain when they start treatment. Hyperbaric treatments most often bring back sensation and make, for example, walking easier and more enjoyable.
  • Why would a physician consider HBOT?
    A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy under a variety of situations. Physicians most typically refer patients to hyperbarics when the patient is not healing with traditional medical interventions and hyperbaric chamber therapy is approved by Medicare for this condition. Some patients experience significant unresolved pain and unremitting disease states that the mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber are known to affect, such as the down regulation of inflamatory genes. For an example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialists interventions. Some physicians will consider hyperbaric chamber therapy if the patient has no other good avenues for improving their failing health, and they know the hyperbaric chamber therapy is safe and will not harm the patient.
  • What is Hypebaric Oxygen Therapy?
    Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0T) is a medical treatment where you inhale 100% oxygen in a chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT injects 400x the oxygen into your tissues and bones and mobilizes stem cells. It regrows healthy tissues in the brain, blood vessels, skin and bones. It also reduces pain and swelling, and speeds recovery. It is simple, effective and painless.

Have more Questions?

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