Two year follow‐up of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD)

Purpose The objective of this study is to examine long-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods The research was implemented for a period of two years. For LLLT, a He-Ne Laser with continuous emission at 633 nm (01 mW/cm2) was used in patients with AMD of all stages (dry to wet exudative forms were included). In total, 54 patients (25 men and 29 women - 108 eyes) with AMD of various stages and a mean age of 67.5 ±5.2 years were included in the study. Progressive, exudative AMD was diagnosed in 33 eyes. 75 eyes had drusen or were depigmented. Laser radiation was applied transpupillary 6 times for 3 min once in two days to the macula. 20 patients with AMD (40 eyes) were randomly selected to receive mock treatment (control group 9 men and 11 women with a mean age of 68.5± 4.2 years). Visual acuity was followed for a 2-year period. The perimetry and Amsler test was used to screen central scotomas. Fluorescein angiogram of AMD and control groups was examined. Results Visual acuity remained unchanged in all patients in the control group. There was a statistically significant increase in visual acuity (p<0.001, end of study versus baseline) for AMD patients for the period of 2 years after the treatment. The edema and hemorrhage in the patients with progressive, exudative AMD significantly decreased. No side effects were observed during the therapy. The prevalence of metamorphopsia, scotoma in AMD group was reduced. Conclusion In conclusion, this study shows that LLLT may be a novel long-lasting therapeutic option for both forms of AMD. This is highly effective treatment that improves visual acuity for a long tme.