Oxygen is fundamental to life activities, but excessive oxygen (too high partial pressure) is harmful for the body, which is known as oxygen toxicity. Oxygen with high partial pressure can cause a series of clinical manifestations with convulsion as the main symptom in a short time, which is called central nervous system (or acute) oxygen toxicity. Central nervous system oxygen toxicity is the main restriction for the use of oxygen in diving operations, underwater special operations, and disease treatment. The pathogenesis of central nervous system oxygen toxicity is not clear yet. There are few effective ways to prevent central nervous system oxygen toxicity except intermittent oxygen inhalation and strict control of the pressure-time course of oxygen use. At present, the pathogenesis and prevention of central nervous system oxygen toxicity are still the focuces and difficulties in the field of diving medicine. This article summarizes the pathogenesis and prevention measures of central nervous system oxygen toxicity recently reported by domestic and foreign literatures, so as to provide references for clinical and scientific research in this area.