Influence of hypobaric hypoxic conditions on ocular structure and biological function at high attitudes: a narrative review

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Neuroscience

Huaqin Xia¹  Ziyuan Liu¹  Jiaxi Li¹  Yuchen Wang¹  Zhongsheng Lv¹  Yiren Wang¹  Xuemin Li¹  Xinli Yu² 

[1] Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China;Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China;School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China;

关键词: hypobaric hypoxia;    ocular structure;    biological function;    high attitude;    dynamic visual performance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnins.2023.1149664

 received in 2023-01-22, accepted in 2023-04-04,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWith the development of science and technology, high-altitude environments, involving aviation, aerospace, and mountainous regions, have become the main areas for human exploration, while such complex environments can lead to rapid decreases in air and oxygen pressure. Although modern aircrafts have pressurized cabins and support equipment that allow passengers and crew to breathe normally, flight crew still face repeated exposure to hypobaric and hypoxic conditions. The eye is a sensory organ of the visual system that responds to light and oxygen plays a key role in the maintenance of normal visual function. Acute hypoxia changes ocular structure and function, such as the blood flow rate, and can cause retinal ischemia.MethodsWe reviewed researches, and summarized them briefly in a review.ResultsThe acute hypobaric hypoxia affects corneal, anterior chamber angle and depth, pupils, crystal lens, vitreous body, and retina in structure; moreover, the acute hypoxia does obvious effect on visual function; for example, vision, intraocular pressure, oculometric features and dynamic visual performance, visual field, contrast sensitivity, and color perception.ConclusionWe summarized the changes in the physiological structure and function of the eye in hypoxic conditions and to provide a biological basis for the response of the human eye at high-altitude.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Wang, Yu, Liu, Lv, Xia, Wang, Li and Li.