Oxygen glasses are a method of delivering medical oxygen. They are used when there is a low to moderate need for oxygen. Here is what you need to know about oxygen therapy with oxygen glasses.

Oxygen glasses are a device used in oxygen therapy (the delivery of conventional medical oxygen (O²) delivered by inhalation. This can be done in several ways. Oxygen is delivered through glasses, by nasal catheter, a single mask or high concentration (HCM) depending on the severity of the situation Oxygen goggles allow nasal inhalation of oxygen. They are used for patients who require administration of medical oxygen (O²) at low or moderate concentrations.

Composition

Oxygen glasses are most often made of medical PVC (transparent, flexible, smooth material), sometimes of polypropylene or silicone. They come in the form of a long, thin tube, with a nasal cannula (two nasal tips), oxygen tubing and an anti-slip ring to adapt the length. They connect to a source of oxygen (oxygen wall outlet or oxygen cylinder).

One method of administering medical oxygen (oxygen therapy) is oxygen glasses. This consists in enriching the inhaled mixture with oxygen, from 21% (ambient air) to 100% (pure oxygen). Oxygen therapy is indicated in all abnormalities of oxygen transport or use:

• acute respiratory failure;
• State of shock ;
• acute anemia;
• hemoglobin abnormality;
• abnormal cellular use of oxygen.

The aim is to correct arterial hypoxemia (decrease in the amount of oxygen transported in the blood) to ensure correct oxygenation of the tissues. Oxygen therapy is indicated for a person whose oxygen saturation is less than 90%.

The objective of this administration of oxygen is to restore or maintain a normal level of oxygen in the blood verified by the level of oxygen saturation (SaO2), which must be greater than 95%.

Indications for oxygen therapy including oxygen glasses

Oxygen therapy has several indications:

• Hypoxemia (decrease in the oxygen-O2 content of the blood);
• Hypercapnia (increased content of carbon dioxide-CO2 in the blood);
• Acute hypoxia (decreased distribution of oxygen-O2 in the tissues);
• Chronic hypoxia: pathologies leading to chronic respiratory failure, COPD.

Public concerned or at risk

Oxygen glasses are used when a person (adult, child, baby) needs a small flow of medical oxygen on a transient or long term basis (oxygen flow of 0,5 to 6L per minute). When a higher oxygen flow rate is required, the oxygen mask allows an oxygen flow rate of 4 to 8L per minute) and the high concentration mask flows higher than 8L oxygen.

The stages of operation

The person needing oxygen glasses is placed in a sitting or semi-sitting position. We make him blow his nose, cough and spit. Then the caregiver, after having prepared the equipment, places the two tips in the nostrils, passes the tubing behind each ear (the tubes go all the way around the ears and meet in front under the chin), adjust the glasses under the chin to using the anti-slip ring.

When to use it?

Oxygen therapy is intended for people suffering from chronic respiratory failure, obstructive pathologies or during surgery. This oxygen therapy can be carried out in hospitals or at home, in particular for people suffering from chronic respiratory failure (oxygen glasses are the means of connection to oxygen most frequently used at home) but also in intervention by rescuers to help a person in respiratory distress. In the context of the current pandemic, people with Covid-19 may require oxygen therapy.

Side effects

The administration of medical oxygen (O2) by the nasal route can cause dryness of the nasal and oral mucous membranes. However, it is a comfortable device for the recipient. The nasal cannula free up the oropharyngeal sphere and allow the person to eat and have a conversation.

The different models

There are oxygen glasses with nasal tips for adults, children and babies. The nasal tips can be straight or curved more or less flared or more or less close together. Some models have ear protection to improve the comfort of the person who needs it.