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Interestingly this topic was recently discussed on another diving forum. A 
reply was posted by a hyperbaric specialist which sums up the current state 
of this research. Since his reply was posted on an open forum I am assuming 
(hopefully) that he would not mind me reposting his reply here. I think his 
comments put this issue into perspective.

QUOTE:

"I was one of the subjects in one phase of the study which was conducted at 
one of the SPUMS Scientific Meetings in Fiji recently.

The media have over-hyped the significance of the results to some degree. 
Mike never suggested he had perfected a new diagnostic test for DCI. His 
study does confirm that divers who have performed dives in the sea (as 
opposed to hyperbaric chambers) do have more bubbles in the tear film of 
the eye than subjects who have not been diving. Moreover, this increase in 
bubble numbers tends to be more pronounced in those with actual symptoms of 
DCI. Unfortunately, the counts do not separate non divers, well divers and 
bent divers into discrete groups. There is considerable overlap. It follows 
that bubble counts are unlikely to ever replace interpretation of the 
presenting symptoms and signs as the most important diagnostic tool. It is 
possible that with more work it may be possible to develop guidelines about 
the probability of DCI based on tear film bubble counts, but we are still a 
way off this yet.

The reference for Mike's study is: Bennett MH, Doolette DJ, Heffernan N. 
Ocular tear film bubble counts after recreational compressed air diving. 
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine 2001;28(1):1-7."

UNQUOTE

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