Hydrogen Therapy Shows Promise for Eye Surgery and Vision Protection
- Authors
- Hiroshi Takahashi
- Journal
- Current Pharmaceutical Design
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.2174/1381612826666201019103446
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Visual System
TL;DR
Scientists found that hydrogen gas can protect your eyes from damage, especially during cataract surgery where ultrasound tools create harmful chemicals—and the hydrogen basically acts like a cleanup crew that neutralizes these damaging chemicals before they hurt your eye tissue.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas dissolved in surgical irrigation fluid directly neutralized harmful molecules produced by ultrasound during cataract surgery, significantly reducing damage to the corneal endothelium (the innermost layer of the cornea).
Summary
This review examined research on hydrogen gas (H2) use in treating eye diseases and during eye surgery. Hydrogen showed promise in reducing damage from reduced blood flow to the retina, preventing scarring from chemical or UV burns to the cornea, and protecting the cornea during cataract surgery. During cataract surgery with ultrasound, hydrogen dissolved in the surgical fluid directly neutralized harmful molecules (hydroxyl radicals) created by the ultrasound vibrations, preventing damage to delicate eye tissue.
Practical Takeaway
While this review suggests hydrogen may have protective effects in eye surgery and certain retinal conditions, it summarizes existing research rather than reporting new clinical trial results. Most evidence appears to come from laboratory and animal studies rather than human trials. Anyone considering hydrogen-based treatments for eye conditions should consult an ophthalmologist, as clinical evidence in humans remains limited.
Abstract
This report reviews studies on the use of H2 in the ophthalmological field. In retinal diseases, particularly in a retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, effects of H2 are remarkable in reducing retinal tissue damage. H2 treatment of corneal damage caused by alkali or UVB suppressed scar formation. The most unique application of H2 in the ophthalmological field appears to be its use in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Ultrasound oscillation produces ·OH through the cavitation phenomenon in the anterior chamber of the eye, which induces oxidative insults in the corneal endothelium. Phacoemulsification using H2 dissolved in the irrigation solution significantly suppressed the corneal endothelial damage. The effect of H2 was direct and clear, as H2 instantly scavenges ·OH produced by ultrasound oscillation in the anterior chamber, thereby suppressing oxidative insults during the phacoemulsification procedure.