Background: Visual loss is a major symptom in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion, while limited vision field has been described in Branched Retinal Artery Occlusion. Despite great developments in diagnostic, surgical and medical ophthalmology fields within recent years, retinal artery occlusion still remains a disease without approved therapy. Retinal cells consumed the highest oxygen consumption in organs, which makes the retina extremely susceptible to ischemia. Aim and Objective: The aim and objective of this prospective study was to look for effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and to evaluate and establish a possible marker for retinal damage. Study Design: Prospective case control study. Place of Study: The study was carried out at the Prana Hyper Baric Oxygen Therapy Centre, located in the Northern parts of Mumbai, in India. Material and Method: Total 62 patients with central retinal artery occlusion were included which were referred to our Prana hyperbaric center Mumbai over a period of three years. The HBO therapy protocol included 90 minutes oxygen breathing at 2 ata twice daily for 3 days and then followed by 1 OD for 4 days. Results and Discussion: The best corrected visual acuity [log MAR] after hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared with baseline showed a significant mean improvement of 0.612 ± 0.64 from 2.16 ± 0.48 to 1.58 ± 0.89 [p<0.0001]. similarly BCVA [log MAR] after HBOT in patients with cherry red spot compared with base line showed a mean improvement of 0.453 ± 0.358 from 2.24 ± 0.32 to 1.87 ± 0.54 [p < 0.0001] also showed a significant finding in non cherry red spot cases where BCVA after HBOT compared with base line showed a mean improvement of 0.78 ± 0.498 from 1.96 ± 0.68 to 1.21 ± 0.71 [p < 0.0001]. Conclusion: From clinical perspective hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective treatment for central retinal artery occlusion cases, it also concludes that the cherry red spot as marker of retinal infarction and as long as it is not being developed the prognosis appears to be good.

Keywords: Central Retinal Artery Occlusion; Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy; Cherry Red Spot.