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Mike Rodriguez wrote:

> Banks Anderson, an ophthalmologist, wrote in interesting paper on
> the topic in which he describes the development of up to 1.6
> diopters of myopia in people repeatedly exposed to a PO2 of 2.0.
> Measurements of the curvature of the cornea revealed no change, so
> it appears the hyperoxic myopia is caused by a metabolic change in
> the lens which alters its refractive index.  Fortunately, Dr. Anderson
> found that the myopia wears off after a few months and doesn't appear
> to have any lasting effect.

Have been gone for several days, attending an ophthalmology meeting
in Philadelphia, and missed this thread.  Although I have not seen
hyperoxic myopia clinically in my practice, the above statement appears
correct, i.e. the myopic change is a metabolic effect on the human
lens.  This is similar to the metabolic change that can develop in
diabetic patients with fluctuating blood glucose levels.  The increase
in blood glucose affects the sorbitol pathway into the lens, causing
it to swell and change the refraction in a myopic direction.  The
myopic changes in diabetics are more transient than the changes that
develop in divers, although they both are reversible.  Can you cite a
link for the paper you mentioned.  Hyperoxic myopia does not get very
much attention in the ophthalmic literature.  MJB
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