A recent study examined the use of photobiomodulation therapy to treat patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The double-masked, prospective randomized trial included 100 adults with dry AMD and evaluated whether a targeted light therapy could improve the vision in the participants. Study results were published in Retina.
Three wavelengths of light were involved and participants were assigned to receive either light therapy or an active sham control of a reduced dose from the same light delivery device. Six series of treatments were administered over a period of 24 months with three sessions a week over 3-5 weeks and repeated every 4 months.
Results showed that the light therapy group gained a mean of 6.2 ETDRS letters at 21 months compared to a gain of 2.4 letters in the sham control group. In addition, by the end of the trial period, fewer eyes that were treated with light therapy progressed to geographic atrophy when compared to those given a sham treatment. Researchers reported no therapy-related serious adverse events.
