Photobiomodulation Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Review

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• photobiomodulation therapy
• age-related macular degeneration
• diabetic macular edema
• diabetic retinopathy

Disclosure

RPS reports personal fees from Genentech/Roche, personal fees from Alcon/Novartis, grants from Apellis and Graybug, personal fees from Zeiss, personal fees from Bausch + Lomb, personal fees from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work. This work has not been presented at any meetings.

Additional information

Funding

The authors report no funding sources or conflicts of interest related to this research.