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

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.