Cabin Pressures on Commercial Aircraft and Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

United States Federal Aviation guidelines suggest cabin pressures less than 8,000 ft. Current Commercial aircraft are commonly pressurized between 6,000 to 8,000 ft depending on the type of aircraft and composite materials of the fuselage. However, this variability can significantly impact patients with NAION, who may be predisposed to hypoxia induced complications, thus resulting in transient changes in vision from lower partial pressures of oxygen at higher altitudes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in cabin pressurization of commercial aircraft at cruising altitude.