High altitudes may cause swelling, but won't affect vision

February 9, 2010

Individuals who climb high altitudes may notice some corneal swelling, but they should not be concerned about having their vision affected, according to a new study.

Findings published in the Archives of Ophthalmology reveal that the corneal swelling in mountain climbers led many of the athletes to be concerned that their eye health might be in jeopardy. While there is a slight chance that changes in the cornea could cause potential vision loss, there is not enough evidence to suggest this is common occurrence.

Researchers studied two groups of climbers and observed both their corneas and their vision. It was found that although the group the ascended the mountain faster had a higher prevalence of swelling, there was no significant decrease in vision for either group.

"It seems that visual acuity in healthy corneas is not adversely affected despite the presence of edema at altitudes up to 6,300 meters," the authors conclude.

The scientists were quick to point out that extreme altitudes such as an elevation of 26,000 feet or higher may result in significant damage to the corneas because of lack of oxygen.