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Photobiomodulation Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Review
Justin C Muste1, Matthew W Russell1, Rishi P Singh1
1Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Purpose:
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBT) has emerged as a possible treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). This review seeks to summarize the application of PBT in AMD and DR.
Methods:
The National Clinical Trial (NCT) database and PubMed were queried using a literature search strategy and reviewed by the authors.
Results:
Fourteen studies examining the application of PBT for AMD and nine studies examining the application of PBT for diabetic macular edema (DME) were extracted from 60 candidate publications.
Discussion:
Despite notable methodological differences between studies, PBT has been reported to treat certain DR and AMD patients. DR patients with center involving DME and VA ≥ 20/25 have demonstrated response to treatment. AMD patients at Age-Related Eye Disease Study Stages 2-4 with VA ≥20/200 have also shown response to treatment. Results of major clinical trials are pending.
Conclusion:
PBT remains an emergent therapy with possible applications in DR and AMD. Further, high powered studies monitored by a neutral party with standard devices, treatment delivery and treatment timing are needed.
